Published: 12:24 AM, 24 May 2026
Limitations in Statecraft Must Be Erased to Stop Brutality on Kids
Shafiqul Islam Khokon
Ramisa is now not just a name within the country and beyond—it has become a symbol of the extreme brutality of social injustice. A child’s life should be filled with laughter, play, and dreams for the future. But those dreams were shattered in an instant. Innocent Ramisa became the victim of a shamefully horrific incident. This shame belongs to the entire social system. It is the shame of impunity. The shame of state negligence.
Ramisa’s death is not only a loss for one family; it is a profound tragedy for the whole society, demanding self-reflection and remorse. A child who should have grown up surrounded by her parents’ love and affection is no longer among them. Her absence can never be filled. Every day, countless children like Ramisa become victims of rape and murder. Only a few cases gain media attention and go viral, while many others remain hidden from public view.
Such incidents raise difficult questions about the safety around us, child protection, and social responsibility. Why do these crimes occur? Where was our vigilance? How can we prevent such tragedies in the future? Finding answers to these questions is now a necessity.
Violence against women and children is not new in Bangladesh. Newspapers are frequently filled with horrifying stories of rape, murder, abuse, and disappearances. But some incidents deeply shake society and challenge our conscience. The Ramisa murder case is one such tragedy. It is not merely a personal loss for one family; it is a brutal reflection of the moral decay of society and the irresponsibility of the state.
In a civilized society, people are supposed to live with security, dignity, and justice. But when a child, adolescent girl, or woman becomes the victim of horrific violence, it becomes clear that the moral foundation of society has weakened. Today, family bonds are becoming fragile, moral education is declining, and individualism and intolerance are increasing.
People are gradually losing empathy. The suffering and value of human life are becoming insignificant to many. This mentality fuels various forms of violence and crime.
The misuse of social media and technology has further complicated the situation. In the virtual world, hatred, threats, humiliation, and degrading attitudes toward women are becoming normalized. Some adolescents and young people are learning to view violence as entertainment. As a result, the psychological barriers against committing crimes in real life are diminishing.
If families and educational institutions fail to teach morality, tolerance, and humanity, crime in society will continue to rise.
However, society alone cannot bear the blame; the state cannot avoid responsibility either. Ensuring the safety and security of citizens is one of the primary duties of the state. But when crimes are not properly investigated, when the judicial process is delayed, or when criminals escape punishment due to political or social influence, a culture of impunity develops.
This culture emboldens criminals. When people see that crimes can be committed without consequences, fear of law and morality diminishes.
To prevent incidents like the Ramisa murder, strict laws alone are not enough; effective implementation of those laws is equally essential. Law enforcement agencies must become more skilled and accountable. The justice system must be swift, transparent, and impartial. At the same time, the state must take long-term initiatives to promote moral education and awareness in society.
Educational curricula should emphasize moral values, gender equality, empathy, and civic responsibility. The development of a state cannot be measured solely by economic growth or infrastructure projects. True progress is only possible when every citizen can live a safe and dignified life. The Ramisa murder reminds us that alongside development, human values and the rule of law are equally important.
What is needed now is collective social resistance. Families, educational institutions, the media, civil society, and the state must work together. Society must develop strong condemnation against crime and break the culture of impunity. Justice for Ramisa is not just the demand of one family; it is the moral responsibility of the entire society and a test of the state’s existence.
The murder of Ramisa is not just one family’s grief—it reflects a deep sickness within our society. When the lives of children, girls, and women are unsafe, it means the moral foundation of society has become fragile. This tragedy once again raises the question: Have we truly succeeded in building a humane society?
Today, violence, abuse against women and children, social intolerance, and the misuse of power are steadily increasing. There is a clear lack of humanity and moral education within families, educational institutions, and the broader social environment.
People are forgetting to respect the lives, dignity, and security of others. Hatred on social media, political polarization, and silent tolerance of crime are accelerating this moral decline.
Yet blaming society alone does not absolve the state of responsibility. Ensuring citizens’ safety is a fundamental duty of the state. Effective law enforcement, swift and impartial justice, and ensuring punishment free from political or social influence are essential state responsibilities. When criminals gain confidence from a culture of impunity, such horrific incidents continue to occur repeatedly.
Incidents like the Ramisa murder remind us that development cannot be measured only by infrastructure; the true progress of a state depends on how safely and dignified its citizens can live. Therefore, from the family level to the state level, there must be the practice of human values, the establishment of the rule of law, and zero tolerance for crime.
We are witnessing the heartbreaking cries of Ramisa’s father and the desperate grief of her mother, which have moved the nation to tears. Discussions about this murder may last only fifteen days before another incident overshadows it. A father shattered by the unbearable pain of losing his daughter has expressed deep distrust in the justice system, placing society itself in the dock. Questions about delays in legal proceedings and the culture of impunity are now concerns shared by all parents.
In conclusion, it must be said that there are hardly any examples in the country where brutal crimes have received proper justice. Criminals often exploit loopholes in the legal system, evade arrest, or secure bail and freedom. In some high-profile cases, death sentences may be announced due to public pressure, but they are rarely carried out effectively. Justice for Ramisa is not merely the verdict of one case; it is a test of whether society and the state can awaken their conscience.
Shafiqul Islam Khokon is a
columnist and a researcher.
