Teenage gangs getting involved in dangerous crimes
We are alarmed at the rise of a gang culture among teenagers in the capital and elsewhere in the country. According to a report in The Daily Star, around 40 teenage gangs are active in the capital while in the port city of Chattogram, there are around a hundred such gangs. These gangs are involved in all kinds of criminal activities—from petty crimes to murder, stalking to rape, and mugging to drug abuse, and mostly operate under the patronage of local ruling party leaders who act as influential "elder brothers". In the last four months, over a dozen people have reportedly been killed by juvenile suspects.
Last September, Nila Roy, a 10th grader, was murdered in Savar by Mizan, a 12th grader and a teenage member of the infamous "Shakil and Sakib" gang. Shakil and Sakib are sons of a local influential Awami League leader who used their father's influence and power to cover up their crimes. Locals alleged that members of this gang were involved in the drug trade, used to stalk and assault girls and were also notorious for extorting people and businesses in Savar. The notorious Nayan Bond's gang "007" in Barguna, which killed Rifat Sharif in broad daylight last year, is a glaring example of the teenage gang culture that is flourishing across the country. The gang was reportedly backed by the son of a top local Awami League leader. A Barguna court recently sentenced 11 juveniles to prison for the murder. The recent gang-rape in Noakhali's Begumganj that outraged the entire nation was also committed by a youth gang named "Delwar Bahini". Reportedly, at least two dozen such gangs operate with blessings from some ruling party leaders in Begumganj alone.
These are just three of the most talked about crimes in recent times. Many such crimes are being carried out by teenage gang members in the capital and all across the country. Clearly, none of the gangs could exist without the patronage of their political "big brothers".
While the law enforcers must identify the gangs and remain vigilant against their activities in order to rid our society of this gang culture, we should emphasise more on establishing social control than reactive actions from law enforcers. The state and society should work together to engage boys in productive activities through youth clubs for instance, so they are not attracted to delinquent or criminal behaviour, which is seen as a sign of power among their circles. More importantly, we will not be able to see a change in the situation if political patronisation is not stopped, since teenagers are engaging in gang culture to feel important and get connected to power. Political leaders, who are using children to control communities or areas, must be held accountable for either creating or encouraging gang culture.
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