The killing of 13-year-old Ishiyat Shahriar Oprotim in Cumilla has brought renewed attention to juvenile crime in Bangladesh and raised urgent questions about why some adolescents become involved in violence, extortion, robbery and other offences—and how they can be prevented from entering criminal networks.
Oprotim, the son of a university teacher, left home on September 18 with his mother’s iPhone to take photographs. Nearly 24 hours later, his body was recovered from a secluded area of the Lalmai hills.
Police arrested four people in connection with the killing. According to their statements, Oprotim was taken to the area in an attempt to snatch his phone and was beaten to death during the incident.
The killing prompted police to intensify operations against suspected members of teenage gangs. Police Headquarters also began collecting information on juvenile gang members and their activities across the country.
According to police data, 3,844 juvenile gang members were arrested nationwide between September 21 and 30.
A separate police review examined 424 cases recorded between 2020 and September 2026 across the country’s eight police ranges, eight metropolitan police units and the Railway Police.
The review covered 2,625 members of 307 juvenile gangs and identified 23 categories of offences, including assault, extortion, theft, robbery, snatching, attempted murder, murder, kidnapping, rape, sexual harassment, drug-related offences, arms-related crimes, cybercrime and offences involving explosives and pornography.
Behind the figures lies a complex social problem involving peer pressure, family relationships, disengagement from education, the desire for status, access to drugs and weapons, social media and the influence of adult criminal networks.
Experts say addressing juvenile crime requires more than periodic police crackdowns. Early identification of vulnerable children, stronger family and school support, community-based intervention and a juvenile justice system that combines accountability with rehabilitation are all essential.
How Teenagers Enter Criminal Networks
Md Rezaul Karim Shohag, chairman of the Department of Criminology at the University of Dhaka, said adolescent friendships and group identities can develop around shared interests, online popularity, fashion, hairstyles and activities such as motorcycle stunts.
Social media can intensify competition for followers and attention, encouraging some young people to engage in increasingly risky behaviour to establish their identity within a group, he said.
Among school dropouts, smoking and subsequent drug use may strengthen ties within certain peer groups, making it easier for some adolescents to become connected to criminal networks, Shohag added.
He described a possible progression from petty theft to robbery and physical violence, with some adolescents eventually becoming involved in more serious offences. Adult criminals may also manipulate children or exploit their vulnerability to draw them into illegal activities.
However, such a progression is not inevitable. Most adolescents who seek peer acceptance, use social media or experiment with risky behaviour do not become offenders. Identifying the circumstances in which those behaviours escalate is therefore crucial to prevention.
Family Neglect, Frustration and the Search for Status
Experts identify weak family supervision, harmful peer influence, pressure to maintain social status and limited opportunities for positive engagement as potential risk factors.
Shohag said changes in family structures and weakening extended-family ties may leave some children with less adult attention and guidance.
Parents may not know whom their children associate with, where they spend their time or whether their friends are involved in harmful activities. This can leave adolescents more vulnerable to pressure from older peers or people connected to criminal groups, he said.
Some teenagers may also feel pressured to compete with peers who have expensive smartphones, motorcycles and fashionable clothing, even when their families cannot afford such items.
When feelings of inadequacy combine with weak supervision and exposure to criminal influences, some adolescents may seek money, recognition or a sense of power through unlawful means, he added.
The Vulnerable Years of Adolescence
Adolescence is a period of rapid physical, emotional and social development. The desire for independence, acceptance and respect can become particularly strong, while the ability to assess long-term consequences is still developing.
Prof Dr Md Omar Faruk of the Department of Criminology and Police Science at Mawlana Bhashani Science and Technology University said involvement in criminal activity often began around age 15, with those aged 16 and 17 being particularly vulnerable.
He said nearly 70% of adolescents involved in crime became involved during those two years. The basis and scope of this estimate should be clarified before publication.
The Bangladesh Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2025, conducted by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with UNICEF, found that 33.9% of children of upper-secondary-school age were out of school. It also found that 85.7% of children aged 1–14 had experienced violent discipline in the month before the survey.
The survey further showed that the adjusted net attendance rate for children of upper-secondary-school age was 50.8% in 2025, highlighting the challenge of keeping older adolescents engaged in education.
These findings point to broader concerns about children’s protection, access to education and home environments. They do not, by themselves, establish that school exclusion or violent discipline causes juvenile offending.
Beyond Arrests: Keeping Children Engaged
Experts say prevention should begin well before a child comes into contact with the police.
Parents need to maintain regular communication with their children, understand their friendships and daily routines, and respond early to unexplained behavioural changes, repeated absences from school or changes in social relationships. Such monitoring should be accompanied by trust and support rather than relying solely on punishment or surveillance.
Schools can help identify repeated absenteeism, bullying, substance use, behavioural changes and signs of disengagement. Teachers, counsellors and guardians should work together to support vulnerable students, help them remain in education and facilitate their return to school where possible.
Faruk said children should have access to sports, cultural activities, recreation and other constructive ways to spend their time.
“When children do not have healthy avenues for recreation, this lack of positive outlets can push them towards negativity,” he said, describing how some adolescents may seek excitement and recognition through drugs, gang activities, harassment or weapons.
He warned that influential individuals could exploit adolescents’ desire for belonging and power, drawing them into activities that serve other people’s interests.
Families and schools can provide close support to children who remain enrolled, while communities must also reach those who have dropped out, he added.
Strengthening Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation
Bangladesh’s response must also address weaknesses in the system responsible for children who come into conflict with the law, Faruk said.
He cited inadequate police training, limited rehabilitation capacity and weak follow-up after counselling or placement in a Child Development Centre as obstacles to preventing reoffending.
Faruk called for reviewing the legal framework and improving enforcement, arguing that the juvenile justice system needs to respond effectively to serious offences while addressing the circumstances that draw children into crime.
Experts say a sustainable response requires coordinated action by families, schools, communities, law enforcement agencies and child-protection services. Timely intervention, access to education and recreation, rehabilitation and consistent follow-up can help reduce the risk of children being drawn into criminal networks.
The challenge is not only to respond when a crime occurs, but also to identify vulnerable adolescents early and provide support before harmful behaviour escalates.