The reality of teenage gangs
The Rapid Action Battalion has arrested eight teenage gang members responsible for the sensational killing of ninth-grader Adnan Kabir in the capital's Uttara last month. Adnan, who himself was a member of a local teenage gang called 'Nine Star', was brutally beaten to death with hockey sticks by members of rival gangs 'Disco Boys' and 'Big Boss'.
The three teenage gangs were involved in a feud and were beating up rival group members for quite some time. Things eventually took a deadly turn when one such beating resulted in the death of Adnan. There are about 30 or more teenage gangs in and around the area reportedly. Thus, one can only imagine how many more there are throughout the entire city.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of the gang members apprehended by RAB were school dropouts. Given that 25 percent of all individuals between the ages of 15 and 29 in our country are neither in the education system, nor participating in the economic cycle, what we are witnessing may well be the early ramifications of a frustrated youth population. Lack of opportunity for youths to get involved in productive and extracurricular activities, in the absence of public spaces, libraries, etc., in particular, have all contributed to the chilling reality society is now having to wake up to.
Nevertheless, it is a reality that society must comprehend and fast. Law enforcers must, of course, be wary of such gang activities; however, without bringing about positive social changes, bringing youths back on track might be difficult.
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