What makes a criminal?

Dr. Md. Ziaur Rahman

In an exclusive interview with The Daily Star, Dr. Md. Ziaur Rahman, Professor and Chairman of Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka talks to Amitava Kar about the trends of crime and what needs to be done. 

What was the thinking behind establishing the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka?

Criminology mainly focuses on the causes of crime from the theoretical point of view. If you cannot identify the reasons behind different kinds of crime such as killings, homicides, terrorism, property crimes, robberies, 'victimless crimes' which are common in western societies, you cannot develop a balanced society. Actually, the department should have been established long ago. Nonetheless, we started our journey in 2014 and we believe we can contribute to fulfilling the desire of the citizens of this country to have a healthy, free society. We have two batches of undergraduate students. We also have a master's programme which accepts regular students as well as professionals including lawyers, journalists, and members of different law enforcing agencies. We are working on establishing links with them for knowledge-sharing and learning. The students and researchers of criminology can contribute significantly toward the development of the criminal justice system. 

Some of the crimes that we see committed today—rape, a daughter killing her parents,  a brother killing a brother, adulteration in food, horrible crimes against children and women—seem to have gone out of control. What are the reasons?

It is a good question. Our society is in a transformative stage. We have lots of traditional family values. On the other hand, we are exposed to various effects of globalisation, urbanisation, the introduction of information technology, and the development of electronic and social media. The nature of relationships is changing. Although our standard of living has gone up, our family values are changing. 

Lately the inaction or the lack of action by the law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of some horrible crimes has frequently been in the news. How do you see it?

As our society is transforming and people are becoming aware with the media playing a very active role, our institutions are still very much in the traditional phase. The perception of the Police is that it is a force, not a service to the people. The Police still follow the 1861 Police Act. If we want to address these sorts of crimes and deviant behaviours, we have to have a modern police service. We saw the images of a policeman beating up a young woman protesting sexual harassment during Pahela Baishakh. It shows that the mindset, the resources and the manpower of the Police are related to their inability to cope with or address these issues. 
But these issues concern not only the Police but the entire criminal justice system which has two other very important components—the courts and the prisons. If we want to address these kinds of crimes, we have to improve the entire criminal justice system. We must have the political commitment. 

How do criminal behaviours affect human relationships?

Criminal behaviour has serious economic and psychological impacts. For example, if a family member is addicted to drugs, it puts the entire family under a tremendous amount of economic and psychological pressure. Any kind of criminal behaviour deeply influences all kinds of social relationships. 

Is it nature or nurture that shapes criminal behaviour?  

It is a question of the difference between the biological factors and social factors. People who belong to the biological factors believe in concepts like "born criminal". From the sociological point of view, we definitely do not disagree with that. Genetics or similar factors like family background, heritage, and descent may pass on from generation to generation.  But that does not mean that nurture is not important. Nurture has the main role because it is synonymous with the socilaisation process.  A person may have been born in a crime prone family but that does not mean he or she cannot change his or her character if he or she gets the right resources and a proper learning. We recognise nature, but in the end, I think nurture plays a more important role. 

The criminal justice system deals with crimes and criminals. But what's the best way to prevent crimes?

Well, you have to have a comprehensive approach. It is the constitutional right of the citizens to live in a peaceful society. The state should ensure that through different kinds of state apparatus and institutions. At the same time we have to have some social forces which can render moral development of the citizens. If you desire a healthy society you have to start with the family, good education and things like that.