“Culture of impunity and the use of power and money to influence trial process are the main factors behind the reoccurrence of these brutal child murders”, said the speakers in the press conference organized to protest the murder of Rakib. The Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh (CRAC,B) organized the press conference on 5 August 2015 at the National Press Club. The speakers condemned the murder of 12-year-old Rakib and demanded that the cases of Rajon and Rakib murders must be brought under speedy trial tribunal and exemplary punishment must be given to the killers.

Advocate Sultana Kamal, Executive Director of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) presided over the conference. She expressed that, “sometimes it is getting difficult to believe that we are living in a civilized and democratic country”. She also added that “these incidents are the sign of moral degradation of the society”.

Michael McGrath, Country Director of Save the Children said that, children should be valued and there should be an effective mechanism to protect them. According to him, “all these torture and inhuman activities are happening because of the culture of domination. As children are the weakest, they are vulnerable and they are tortured”. He strongly recommended that zero tolerance against violence against children in all sphere i.e. family, society, and educational institutions should be the state policy.

Wilfred Sikukula, Acting Country Director at World Vision, Bangladesh said that, “children are being used as commodities that adults feel they can expend as they please. No stone should be untouched to stop these incidents”.

Abdus Shahid Mahmood, Executive Director of Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum, expressed that, “the children Act 2013 have protection measures for the children who are in contact or in conflict with the law but there is no protection measure for the general children. A law should be enacted for the protection of the general children”.

A written press statement was presented in the press conference. Speakers stressed on the political commitments to protect and also to ensure justice for the children. Badiul Alam Majumdar, Secretary of Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, representatives from Terre des Hommes, Netherlands and Plan Bangladesh also spoke at the conference.

Full written speech of the press conference in English

Full written speech of the press conference in Bangla