Juvenile delinquency has become a matter of social and national concern in recent times. In the major cities of the country, including the capital, teenagers are getting involved in horrific crimes through various gangs.

Like the professional terrorist-godfather clique, there are also gangs of teenagers. Each gang has influence in one area. If this continues, there is a danger that juvenile terrorism will emerge as a new social disorder in the future. The condition of the capital is more dire.

In 2010, the police compiled a list of 518 people active in the capital’s neighborhoods of juvenile terrorists. The groups were active in Uttara, Dhanmondi, Tejgaon, Kafrul, Mohammadpur, Turag, Newmarket and Joydebpur areas of Gazipur in Dhaka.

According to the police, most of the murders in the capital in the last 10 years have been committed by juvenile offenders. This is very scary information. In Chittagong metropolis also, there are reports that half a hundred teenage gangs are involved in various criminal activities including occupation and extortion.

Murders are also being committed by them. Many teenagers are working under the political umbrella or as accomplices of the top terrorists. They are also involved in extortion, looting and robbery in different mahallas. According to experts, loose family ties, lack of time for parents and children, social degradation, access to advanced technological devices including smartphones at an early age, adultery, etc. are increasing the tendency of teenagers to be involved in crime. The opportunity to grow up in a healthy environment in the family, educational institution and community can protect teenagers from going astray. Care must be taken to ensure that adolescents do not engage in crime and that no one exploits them.

For this, first of all the family and parents have to come forward. What children do, who they spend time with – all these must be taken care of. Children need to think before they meet unreasonable desires. Appropriate counseling needs to be arranged for those who are already involved in the crime cycle.