ASK irked by rise in violence against children

Expressing deep concern at recent incidents of violence against children across the country, Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) yesterday urged the government to take effective and visible steps to stop recurrence of such incidents.

A press release of the human rights organisation mentioned the murder of 16-year-old restaurant staff Md Riad in the capital allegedly by his employer on Tuesday. 

According to police, Ghoroa Restaurant owner Ariful Islam Sohel allegedly shot Riad for "stealing a mobile phone and Tk 1,500" after hours of torture. An attempt was made to pass it off as a fatal mugging incident, it added.  

The statement, signed by ASK Executive Director Sultana Kamal, also mentioned two incidents outside Dhaka.

One was in Tangail's Modhupur where on Tuesday a 12-year-old boy, Rezaul Karim, was harassed and tortured for allegedly stealing bananas and another in Gazipur's Kaliakoir where on October 28 a nine-year-old boy, Shakil, was tied to a tree and tortured allegedly for getting in a row with a neighbour's son.

There has been a very worrying increase in inhumane behaviour towards children, observed ASK, demanding prompt legal steps and strict and exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.