Desk Report: Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir has strongly condemned the killing of Ishayat Shahriar Opritom, a seventh-grade student and the only son of Dr Nahida Begum, an associate professor of the Department of Bangla at Comilla University.

In a joint statement issued on Friday (September 19), Shibir Central President Nurul Islam and Secretary General Sibgatullah demanded a fair and speedy investigation into the killing and exemplary punishment for those responsible.

The student leaders said the killing of Opritom inside a university area raised serious concerns about public safety and the country’s law and order situation.

They described the incident as a “grave manifestation” of deteriorating law and order and said it had heightened public concern over the safety of life and property.

The leaders also claimed that the killing was not an isolated incident, pointing to a series of violent crimes reported in different parts of the country in recent days.

They referred to the killing of a child allegedly by another minor in Mymensingh, murders in Tangail and elsewhere, and the recovery of mutilated bodies from different locations. According to the statement, such incidents have contributed to growing fear and insecurity among the public.

The organisation also expressed concern over reports of theft, robbery, mugging and extortion, as well as arson and other acts of violence that it attributed to the banned Awami League.

Shibir further claimed that incidents of violence against women and rape had increased in different parts of the country during September.

It cited the reported rape and killing of a seven-year-old girl in Madarganj, Jamalpur, whose body was allegedly buried beneath the floor of a house, as well as the reported prolonged abuse of an 11-year-old domestic worker named Tania in Dhaka.

The student organisation also referred to previous cases involving the killings of children, including Asia and Ramisa, and alleged that delays in justice and a culture of impunity were contributing to the recurrence of such crimes.

The statement said the reported incidents had raised broader concerns over child safety, social values and the overall law and order situation.

The Shibir leaders blamed the current government for what they described as a worsening situation, alleging that supporters of the ousted government were involved in attempts to destabilise the state through bomb attacks, arson and other acts of sabotage.

They further alleged that the government had failed to take effective measures against such activities and called for stronger administrative and law enforcement action.

The organisation demanded immediate steps to restore law and order, strengthen intelligence surveillance and make the police administration more effective and free from political influence.

Shibir leaders also called for the perpetrators of Opritom’s killing to be identified and brought to justice without delay, while urging the government to take visible and effective measures to ensure the safety of people and their property across the country.

They expressed deep sympathy for Opritom’s bereaved family and prayed for the salvation of his soul.