Bodies of 36 missing children recovered in eight months: ASK

The recovery of the body of 13-year-old Eshayat Shahriar Oprotim after he went missing in Cumilla has once again brought into focus the alarming situation surrounding missing and murdered children in Bangladesh.

Human rights organisation Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) has reported that the bodies of 36 children were recovered after they went missing in various incidents during the first eight months of this year.

According to ASK, the concern is not limited to children whose bodies were recovered after they went missing. Many children have also died in various circumstances this year, including after rape, physical abuse and violence within families. In several of these cases, allegations have been made against acquaintances or relatives of the victims.

According to ASK statistics compiled from reports published in various media outlets, information on the deaths of 155 children was recorded in the first eight months of the year in incidents involving murder, rape, abuse and other forms of violence. Of these, 68 children died following physical abuse, 49 following violence within families and 26 were killed after being raped. In addition, four children died after attempted rape, three were killed by gunfire, two died after being physically abused while working as domestic help, two died at the hands of alleged harassers and one child died after being abducted.

ASK data also show that during the same period, 99 incidents were recorded involving suicide, mysterious deaths and the recovery of bodies from various locations. This indicates that concerns over child safety extend beyond killings, with cases of children going missing and dying under unusual circumstances further highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

The number of killings across the country has also remained significant. According to data from the Police Headquarters, 2,362 murder cases were filed across the country during the eight months from January to August this year, averaging around 295 cases a month during the period.

The number of missing children has added to the concerns. According to ASK, reports of more than 15,000 children going missing across the country were published in various media outlets between January and July this year.

In a press release issued by the Police Headquarters on September 3, it was stated that 15,717 children had gone missing during the first seven months of the year. Of them, 13,679 children had been rescued, accounting for more than 87 percent of the total number reported missing. However, 2,038 children remain missing—around 13 percent of the total.

Expressing concern over incidents of rape and murder involving children, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a statement on May 22. Rana Flowers, UNICEF’s then representative in Bangladesh, called for an end to impunity in such cases.

UNICEF has stressed the importance of ensuring children’s safety at every level of society, including homes, educational institutions and workplaces. It has also emphasised the need for effective reporting mechanisms, child-friendly police and judicial processes, protection services at the local level, and psychological and social support for children. The organisation has also highlighted the need for greater accountability in schools, madrasas and workplaces.