Cruelty to parents is not an unheard-of phenomenon in societies where poverty is endemic. Yet, amazingly, in societies of the sub-continent, old value systems kept such treatment largely in check. But with the filial bond slackening in recent times, mostly due to rejection of norms and values, incidents of atrocious cruelty to parents are reported from time to time. In one such horrific incident an old woman aged about 80 was put in a gunny sack and abandoned on roadside at a place called Sasangaon under Narayanganj, where the wretched life had lain for about three days before the local Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) rescued her and admitted to a hospital in that town. She could end up as a dead woman without address. Sheer luck and her resilience have made her story different. It is not quite uncommon floating old souls die without leaving any trace of their relations to anyone in this world. She is lucky to receive medical care at a hospital but still there is no guarantee of her return to her sons because she does not have that required information about her village home.
The kind UNO has saved a woman in distress but the facilities available at the hospital there are not enough to treat her broken waist bone. Even if she is shifted to an orthopaedic hospital, courtesy of government intervention, and gets cured, can she return to her family? Under the Parents Maintenance Act 2013, she should. But to her two sons and their wives (as narrated by her) she is unlikely to be welcome. No wonder, she prays for her own death. When sons and daughter in-laws can throw a parent out of their home, they are unlikely to volunteer to take her back. Nor will their hearts change so suddenly. Perhaps, the woman will be better placed in an old home. This is the least society can do for a parent like her.
Under the Parents Maintenance Act 2013, sons and daughters not taking responsibility of their parents (or even grand parents) are liable to punishment involving a maximum fine of Tk 100,000 and in default at the most three months' imprisonment. Perhaps not a single person has ever been punished in the country for the offence so far. In this case, there is little hope the old woman's sons can be identified. Even if they are finally traced back, it will be small consolation for her. But at least an attempt should be made to find them out and the provisions of the laws enforced. This will be an instance for others so that they will think twice before turning their parents out of their homes. Apart from the legal side, there is a need for spreading the religious teaching regarding parents' place as sacrosanct as that of heaven. Generally, society as a whole should pay respect to its senior citizens.
Cruelty to parents
FE Team | Published: August 02, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
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