Who bears the responsibility for this disgrace?

To begin with, the politicians in our nation are accountable for this disgrace. I will refrain from naming any particular party; the primary responsibility for child abuse in Bangladesh rests with the senior leaders of all political factions. However, it is shameful that they neither take nor acknowledge this responsibility. I am attributing blame to politicians in light of the rape and murder of child Ramisa in Mirpur. The immediate response to this might be, 'Will politicians go from door to door to protect children?' In a civilized political framework, there is no necessity for politicians to go door to door to safeguard children; if educated and aware individuals with a sense of civic duty and state customs are nurtured, they will become the guardians of their own moral compass. Another response might be, do educated individuals not commit crimes? Certainly, they do; however, genuinely educated individuals do not resort to violence, whether physical or verbal.

This is our misfortune, a disgraceful failure on the part of our politicians. The education system in Bangladesh could arguably be considered one of the most inadequate education systems globally at this time. This educational system is persistently generating individuals with degrees who possess distorted preferences, exhibiting violence, irrationality, and a lack of consideration. We find ourselves within an educational framework that fails to instruct us on distinguishing between right and wrong, as well as beauty and ugliness. This flawed educational system is giving rise to heinous criminals such as rapists and murderers, exemplified by Sohel Rana. Despite 54 years of independence, it is imperative for politicians to acknowledge their responsibility for the inability to establish a robust educational system in Bangladesh.

Many will discuss poverty, the absence of social values, the encroachment of social media, and cite instances of the prevalence of online pornographic content, nodding their heads as if they possess wisdom. However, they conveniently overlook the exemplary case of Sri Lanka. Among South Asian nations, Sri Lanka boasts the highest literacy rate, and its educational system is significantly more advanced and civilized than ours. Consequently, even amidst an economic crisis, the citizens of that nation do not rapidly descend into mental poverty. While there are movements occurring in that country as well, properties and structures are not indiscriminately destroyed. A protest against Raza Paksa saw demonstrators enter his residence, yet none of those hundreds of individuals engaged in theft or looting. They did not take to the streets brandishing Paksa's undergarments. In that movement, the government that emerged from the protests initiated legal action against the misguided individuals involved, and the judiciary held them accountable. Sri Lanka enjoys a literacy rate of 98 percent, a result of its sound educational system. There, university educators dedicate more time to the classroom and study environments, unlike the tutors in our country who often operate in private settings. Educators in Sri Lanka may hold political beliefs but do not affiliate with any political party. This is why, following the protests in Sri Lanka, educational institutions resumed normal operations within a week, with everyone returning to their classrooms.

In our nation, a faction of the protesters was formed with autopasses, swiftly appointing MPs and ministers, thereby steering the country towards a more severe political turmoil in the long term! Some university educators do not even remain neutral; instead, they align themselves with the beneficiaries they have fostered and engage in teaching the 'enhanced' principles and regulations of corruption. Not only Sri Lanka and India, but those who derive particular satisfaction from citing Pakistan as an example also scrutinize Pakistan closely. Unlike our nation, Pakistan does not possess such a corrupt and fragmented education system, nor does it have the same level of unethical teacher politics and corrupt educational administration. Consequently, when educated citizens of Pakistan fulfill their roles as managers at the Dubai-Doha airport, unskilled Bangladeshi laborers seek employment as bathroom attendants beneath them!

The university educators in our country regard their greatest accomplishment as being acknowledged as third-class operatives of the political party. This is why only one or two vice-chancellors from our universities have occasionally ascended to the position of vice-chancellor. The remainder have merely acted as guards, primarily tasked with ensuring the freedom of the goons and thugs associated with the student organization, which is an extension of the ruling political party, to engage in all manner of misconduct.

Even during the interim government's tenure, vice-chancellors have been observed actively participating as that political tail. When the university educators of a nation collectively lose their individuality, the foundation of that nation is compromised. This is the current state of affairs in our country. Incidents of sexual assault in universities have repeatedly been perpetrated by loyal operatives of the ruling political party of that era. I have also witnessed during the anti-rape movement at the university that the most significant barrier to prosecuting rapists is the 'politically characterless' educators loyal to the ruling political party and the administration they oversee.

In a nation where a significant portion of educators lack genuine qualifications and embody a warped mentality of being political beneficiaries, only individuals with degrees emerge from the universities of that nation, rather than truly educated individuals! The most recent perpetrator, who was observed at Jahangirnagar University, is also recognized as a close associate of a prominent political figure from Savar. Consequently, the university administration, under the guidance of the educators, was unable to apprehend him even after he was discovered on campus, and the police failed to detain him as well!

Indeed, our corrupt educational system as a whole is fostering a mentality conducive to rape throughout society. Individuals with this rapist mentality are proliferating within the community. As a result, heinous rapists like Sohel Rana are lurking nearby, concealed by masks, and we remain oblivious to their presence. Following the Mirpur incident, one must examine the comments beneath various related posts. Are not those who made repugnant, tasteless remarks regarding little Raisa's attire as mentally distorted as Sohel Rana? From which educational system did they originate? The clothing and demeanor of those tasteless commenters disclose the identity of the educational system they represent. However, this is lamentable. No remarks can be directed at those rapist commenters, no discussions can be held regarding their educational deficiencies, no conversations can be initiated about their mental distortions, and no dialogue can occur regarding measures to restore them to a sound mindset.

The moment such discussions arise, certain hypocritical political leaders who benefit from this distorted practice will mislead a segment of the populace and subsequently rush to assault you with their forces. The leaders of progressive political parties will find solace in unique circumstances by composing abstract poetry, while the leaders of reactionary political parties will exploit this situation to fuel further animosity; the more provocations there are, the more secure their voter bases will remain!

Child abuse is regarded as the gravest criminal act across all nations globally. In our country, there have been instances where even a three-year-old child has been brought to court as a defendant, witnessed right before our eyes. The occurrence of police detaining a child by the collar in public and subjecting him to torture has become alarmingly commonplace, and the magistrate of the mobile court does not hesitate to incarcerate a child for trivial offenses!

Furthermore, when discussions arise regarding child rights, those in power often avert their gaze, claiming, 'This is how we cannot further suppress juvenile gangs!'

Nevertheless, it is well-known among the administration that certain unscrupulous politicians are responsible for the creation and sustenance of these juvenile gangs, a fact acknowledged by the senior leaders of all political parties. Our exceedingly arrogant administration fails to curb juvenile gangs effectively, yet it excels at imprisoning the mother of a six-month-old breastfed infant for minor infractions!

Observe how the significant crisis instigated by Dr. Muhammad Yunus' government, even involving business dealings with children's vaccines, has victimized innocent children. Measles had nearly been eradicated in Bangladesh, but the interim government has reintroduced this disease, leading to the tragic sight of numerous children perishing before our eyes. The magnitude of this situation is bound to be deeply alarming. In the long term, there exists a profound concern that an entire generation may endure various physical and intellectual disabilities. The dearth of educated individuals in Bangladesh is evidenced by the resurgence of measles as an epidemic. Dr. Yunus' government was surrounded by PhD holders, yet not a single one voiced any concern regarding the fatalities of children resulting from measles vaccination. These were the very individuals who once advocated for the importance of acknowledging their errors.

However, their identities have now been revealed. Are these individuals with PhDs genuinely educated? Or are they merely cunning opportunists and uninformed individuals? The most regrettable aspect is that during the previous interim administration, the endorsement of distorted values in the nation received a form of governmental acknowledgment. Various acts of mischief and violence were supported. Under the guise of reforming the political framework of the country, there has been an effort to strategically elevate hypocrisy to the level of state policy, rather than fostering true 'democracy'. Democracy has been established under state sponsorship in such a manner that citizens now perceive it as their entitlement to take the law into their own hands and commit acts of violence and murder openly!

The explicit backing of the former interim government for this distorted practice has, in the long term, driven the nation towards extreme moral decay. The interim government led by Dr. Muhammad has utterly dismantled any principles, ideals, and opportunities for fostering mindfulness that existed within the educational system of the country. Throughout the period of the interim government, cultural organizations have been eradicated from schools, colleges, universities, and all forms of educational institutions. In addition to the mandated curriculum, cultural activities and sports in educational settings are vital for the mental growth of children. However, these have now been eliminated. Consequently, curbing this trend of moral decay will pose a significant challenge for both current and future administrations.

I urge the government to prioritize the evaluation of the nation's education system. It is essential to examine the remarkable advancements made by neighboring countries in the field of education. Without significant reforms in the education system, it will be impossible to advance this country through any reform commission. Additionally, it is crucial to enhance the nation's cultural initiatives and broaden the scope of refined entertainment. Our cherished homeland must not become a haven for immorality. I am committed to ensuring that this land is safe for my children and a nurturing environment for them to grow into genuine individuals, alongside Ramisa's parents.

Rased Mehedi, Editor, Views Bangladesh