UNICEF regional director for South Asia has expressed his deep concern over the impact of recent violence and ongoing unrest on children in Bangladesh confirming at least 32 children’s killed with many more injured and detained. It shows the utter violation of all sorts of protective laws for children globally. The regional director says, “UNICEF condemns all acts of violence. On behalf of UNICEF, I extend my heartfelt condolences to families mourning the loss of their sons and daughters.” He emphasised that the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of children to freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly while having meetings with the government, UNICEF partners and organisations working for and with young people.

It is everyone’s responsibility to protect children at all times as Bangladesh has demonstrated a strong commitment to children’s rights since becoming a signatory to the Convention almost 34 years ago. But today it seems that the state has totally forgotten that convention. Their adamant just shows that they must cling to power at any cost, even killing hundreds of people and the future generation who are going to lead the nation and world. Many children are suffering from psychological trauma whenever they hear the sound of helicopters or cars, fearing that helicopters will fire at them and police will arrest them. Why have we created such a type of mayhem and hell-like situation for all in general and the children in particular? Many mothers gathered at different points in the city and described the trauma. Many newspapers have published the same news talking to mothers who lost their children and who have shown serious concern about the future of the children. It is really frightening that the children are being detained. They do not have any political link or bias towards any party. They just came out to the street with a cause or with curiosity or to join the procession out of interest. That does not mean they are criminals. However, the state treatment towards them looks just like criminals or more than that. We did not see what tremendous torture they had to undergo in the police custody but what we have seen is that children are being produced before the court tying ropes around their waist and with all kinds of people. It is another serious violation of children’s rights. UNICEF urged an end to the detention of children in all its forms. That is, children should not be arrested or detained based on their mere presence in any location or because of their background, religion, or acts or beliefs of their family members.

Millions of people across the country have witnessed the gravity of the current situation. It sounds further intense when we hear the UNICEF regional director’s comment “I visited the UNICEF-supported Child Helpline 1098 which has seen a 250 per cent increase in demand since the violence started. Thousands of children are now asking their parents ‘what is curfew’. They themselves experienced the ugly face of curfew that claimed the lives of many people. One of my nephews was asking his mother, “Mom, is the helicopter coming again to kill us?” He saw through his window helicopters moving very close over their building and firing tear shells and shooting. We saw smoke that seriously frightened not only the children but also us, the aged people. Not only that, the children also witnessed the parading of armed people with helmets and hockey sticks shouting, crying and beating whoever walked on the lanes and streets. To their utter surprise, many children witnessed this peculiar scene. This is a terrible loss. We do not know when the children will get rid of this trauma. We want to ask ourselves, “Do our children deserve this being the citizens of the nation that we call independent?”

When this abnormal situation will improve remains unknown to us. When will the psychologically, physically and mentally affected children and young people be able to heave a sigh of relief and breathe in the open air without any fear is quite uncertain? The UNICEF also prescribes reopening all schools, restarting learning and reuniting children with their friends and teachers to heal their trauma. 30 million students from pre-primary to secondary schools have missed around two weeks of school though the reopening of primary schools in many parts of Bangladesh from 4 August has been declared. We apprehend whether it will be possible to do so as the country anxiously waits to see again a complete ‘non-cooperation movement’ from the same day.

May a peaceful situation prevail in our beloved motherland soon and let us pray for all the souls who left us embracing bullets on the soil of their dearest motherland. These children did not know why they left us! Most of them were in their homes or adjacent to their homes or on the laps of their mother or father. We do not know whether they will forgive us or not!

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The writer is a President- English Teachers’ Association of Bangladesh. Email: [email protected]