March 14, 2025
DHAKA – Before the eight-year-old Magura girl could fully understand life, it was snatched away from her, leaving behind a tale of violence and vulnerability. Her death, probably caused by sexual assault, has sent shockwaves through the nation and raised pressing questions about the safety of women and children in Bangladesh.
The tragic death serves as a grim reminder of the persistent threat to women’s and children’s safety in Bangladesh. The child’s death, which occurred after being transferred across multiple hospitals in a desperate attempt to save her life, has raised critical questions about our ability to protect our most vulnerable citizens. While the arrest of the accused, including her brother-in-law and other family members, is a necessary step, it does little to address the underlying issues that allowed such a horrific incident to occur in the first place.
The incident reflects not just an individual act of violence but a systemic failure. Despite hopes for a safer society following the July uprising, this death reveals the stark reality that the promises of protection and justice remain unfulfilled. It is not enough to simply bring the perpetrators to justice after such tragedies occur. The government must take proactive measures to prevent such crimes by strengthening legal frameworks, improving law enforcement, and fostering community awareness about gender-based violence.
Moreover, this case highlights the social stigma and fear that often prevent victims and their families from seeking justice. In many instances, survivors are silenced by societal pressure or fear of retaliation, allowing perpetrators to act with impunity. The lack of an adequate support system for survivors, coupled with slow and often corrupt legal processes, further exacerbates the situation. Bangladesh must implement comprehensive reforms to truly honour the eight-year-old’s memory, including education programmes to promote gender equality, establishing safe spaces, and ensuring accountability within the justice system.
Critically, the government’s response to this tragedy will be a test of its commitment to human rights and justice. While arresting the accused may provide some solace to the little girl’s family, a deeper question will remain—how many more lives will be lost before real change is implemented? The brutal reality is that without structural reform and cultural shift, similar incidents will continue to plague the nation. This death should serve as a catalyst for action, pushing Bangladesh to break the cycle of violence and build a society where women and children can live without fear.
This incident is not just an isolated crime. It’s a painful reflection of the state of children’s safety and a disturbing trend of child abuse in Bangladesh. This death should serve as a wake-up call. It is time for the government and society to confront the uncomfortable truth that our children are not safe. The despicable crime highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms, stricter enforcement of laws, a culture where sexual violence is no longer tolerated and survivors not stigmatised.
This death — or perhaps murder — is not just a loss for the family, but a collective failure of our society to keep children safe.