Parents killing their children on the rise

These days are probably the worst time to live and grow up as a child in Bangladesh as an increasing number of children are being killed by their own parents who are supposed to protect them from all evils in the world.

Psychologists, criminologists and experts have made such observations, blaming the situation on strained relationships between husbands and wives, frustrations, financial constraints and other family grievances that lead to a psychological stage when they kill their children. 

In the latest incident on Wednesday, a young mother allegedly killed her two children, aged only three and five, and then committed suicide in the capital's Darussalam area.

According to Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), 11 children were killed by their parents in 2014. The figure rose to 40 in 2015 and 64 last year.

Before 2014, some isolated incidents used to take place. A rapid increase in the number of such deaths was seen since then and now it has gone up to an alarming level, said Azmi Akter, programme officer (research) of BSAF.

Pointing out reasons, Mekhala Sarkar, assistant professor (psychiatry), National Institute of Mental Health, said a person does not commit suicide or kills loved ones over a single incident.

“It actually happens after a long continuity of dissatisfaction that culminates in total behavioral change.”

Every single step of near ones should be noticed. If anyone is found passing time in disturbance or stress, they must be taken to experts who can help strengthen ties between the individual concerned and her family members, Mekhala told The Daily Star.

Citing the media as one of the factors responsible for the unexpected deaths of children, she said the media publishing suicide news on their cover page sometimes encourages others, subjected to similar situations, to do the same.  

Such incidents cannot be stopped through punishment, said Farida Yeasmin, deputy commissioner of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's women protection wing. Rather, social and family values should be upheld.

“Killing beloved children is not an easy task for a mother. When a mother thinks that she has no value in society she takes her life and before that she kills her children thinking they would be in more trouble in her absence.”

People must be encouraged to come forward to help their neighbours in distress, Farida added.

The brutal incidents are only a reflection of the fact that people in the country are passing a bad time, not friendly for a child to grow up, who witnesses bad things, even death, happening to those of his or her age, said AS Mahmood, director of BSAF. 

Earlier, people used to live in joint families in which members had strong bonding between them and cared for each other. But now people don't have time for those of their nuclear family, let alone extended family members, and are always busy to be well-placed in society, Mahmood added.

Rapid changes are taking place in our society beyond imagination due to social media, urbanisation, cultural changes and global connectivity, said Prof Zia Rahman, chairman of the Dhaka University criminology department.

Such changes had led to similar incidents in the developed world as well but those countries had means to tackle them.

“Unfortunately we don't have those options,” he said and suggested that the state should take initiatives like introducing daycare centre, recreation centre and theater where people can share their thoughts and build relationships.

Apart from the Darussalam incident, some other incidents came into discussion.

On December 12, Marzina Akhtar Mukta, 23, wife of expatriate Tarek Mahmud, committed suicide after killing her son Mahin Ahmed, 4, and daughter Tasnim Ahmed Mahi, 8, in West Ukilpara area of Feni.

Police said the mother committed suicide by taking poison after strangulating her children with phone cable and towel over a family feud.

On February 29 last year, Nusrat Aman Aroni, 14, and her brother Alvi Aman, 6, were found unconscious in their apartment in Dhaka's Banasree. They were declared dead by doctors.

Their mother Mahfuza Malek Jasmine later confessed that she killed her children, having been disappointed by their school examination results. The case is now under trial at the Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.