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Alarming rise in child sexual abuse

346 fall victim to rape in four and a half months

FE Report | Thursday, 16 May 2019


Incidents of child sexual abuse across the country marked an alarming rise this year.
More than 346 children fell victim to rape during the period from January to May 14, according to a report by a child rights organisation.
The rate of such appalling crime over the last four and a half months is higher than any period in the past, the report revealed.
On an average, two children were raped a day, it said.
The report also cited several reasons behind the rise in such crime in big cities-growing number of floating people in cities, lack of adequate security and inaction on the part of lawmen.
According to the report, more than 60 children were raped in the last 14 days of this month. The figures for January, February, March and April are 52, 60, 52, and 122 respectively.
Besides, 153 more children were killed and 68 others died by suicide during the period.
The report also showed that at least 236 children were killed in road accidents and 118 others drowned.
The Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) released the report at a meeting on the 'Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights' at the National Parliament's IDP conference hall in the city on Wednesday.
Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah attended the event as the chief guest, with BSAF Chairperson Dr Khawja Shamsul Huda in the chair.
The BSAF organised the meeting with support from the Terre des Hommes Netherlands, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global March Against Child Labour.
Speaking on the occasion, Fazle Rabbi Miah called for establishing a separate directorate for child affairs or a child rights commission to protect children from all kinds of oppression and torture.
He also urged the lawmakers to raise awareness among people about child rights.
Dr Khawja Shamsul Huda put emphasis on the effective role of parliamentarians to protect the children's rights.
Other speakers pointed out that it would be difficult for the nation to attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) if the child rights issues are ignored.
The development would not sustain for long unless the child rights are ensured, they added.
As many as 15 lawmakers, among others, joined the meeting moderated by BSAF Director Abdus Shahid Mahmood.

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