Kicking a football is no crime
We're shocked to learn of a tragic incident in Noakhali's Chatkhil upazila where a 15-year-old schoolboy was allegedly killed for kicking a football – a chilling reminder of the cruelty and violence that children continue to face in many parts of the country. According to a report, Osman Gani, a seventh grader, died from injuries sustained after being beaten by a neighbour for kicking his son's ball, which accidentally landed on the roof of a nearby building. Osman was initially taken to the Noakhali Sadar Hospital, and later to a hospital in Dhaka, where he died on Tuesday. His family claimed that the neighbour, a mason, held a grudge against them because of a past incident.
Whatever the motive, it is preposterous that a young life would be cut short over something as innocuous as kicking a ball. A game meant to bring joy and camaraderie instead led to a tragedy that will forever haunt the memories of those who knew Osman. But our response to this incident must go beyond expressing condolences and seeking justice, which we hope will be delivered following proper investigations. We must dig deeper, and examine the broader societal context that continues to allow such acts to occur.
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It is perhaps reasonable to suggest that as a society we're growing increasingly intolerant, and it is the weaker members of society like children who are most vulnerable in this climate. The risks facing them are legion, as various media reports will show, and the circumstances surrounding Osman's death highlight the disturbing ease with which a risk may materialise. According to a 2020 survey, nine out of 10 children in the country experience some form of violent disciplining by their caregivers. Besides physical or psychological aggression, the two most critical challenges they face are child labour and marriage, both seriously damaging their life potential. The Unicef says that nearly 7 percent of children aged between 5 and 17 years are involved in some form of labour, while 51 percent of women aged between 22 and 24 were married off before their 18th birthday.
Evidently, we have failed to create a safe and nurturing environment for our children where they will be protected from abuse, cruelty, or exploitation, and where their fundamental rights will be respected. It is deeply alarming. We must think critically about this issue and try to rectify it.
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