In recent years, Bangladesh has seen a disturbing trend of increasing teenage gang activity among school children. This trend has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced many schools to close and shift to online learning, leaving students with more free time on their hands.

According to a report by the Bangladesh Police, the number of teenage gangs in the country has increased by 40% since the pandemic began. The report also states that these gangs are becoming increasingly violent, with a rise in the number of assaults and robberies committed by teenage gang members.

Another study conducted by the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies (BIPSS) found that the majority of teenage gang members in Bangladesh come from low-income families and have a history of truancy or dropping out of school. The study also found that these children are more likely to have experienced trauma or abuse in their lives.

In an ongoing baseline survey of a project of IDRC and KIX, titled Effectiveness and Scalability of Programs for Children who are Out of School and At Risk of Dropping Out in Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, teenage gang related activities of school going children have been observed. In one area, an incident has been reported that took place within the school campus. A boy of class 7 was beaten near to death by a group of his classmates and left unconscious inside the school lift. This incident went up to filing a complaint, police came in the school and the guardians were furious.

While collecting data, mother of a student, expressed her concerns regarding the safety, security of their children as well as the degrading environment of both school and nearby localities. She shared the fact that his son fell into bad company and did a lot of damage to his studies. He used to hang out with a group of boys, who took drugs. These boys would hang out in someone’s house, where the parents are working, and they are out the whole day. They would take drugs, smoke inside the house in a housing area under the control area 1. Later on, her son was brave enough to tell everything to police and the group was caught red-handed by the police. Yet his mother is now worried about the security of his son and the other children.

Two police incidents in one area, related to the same school students reflects the fact that, the increase in teenage gang activity has raised concerns about the impact on the safety and well-being of both the children involved and their communities. The Bangladesh Police have reported that teenage gangs are often involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and prostitution, which can lead to serious social problems. Additionally, children who are involved in gangs are at a higher risk of being exposed to violence and crime, which can have long-term effects on their mental health and well-being.

The government of Bangladesh has taken some steps to address this issue by increasing police patrols in areas known for gang activity and providing social services to at-risk youth. However, more needs to be done to address the root causes of this trend, such as poverty and lack of access to education and social services.

In conclusion, the alarmingly increasing trend of teenage gang activity among school children in Bangladesh after COVID-19 is a cause for concern. This trend is driven by factors such as poverty, lack of access to education, and trauma or abuse. It is important for the government, parents and educators to be aware of this trend and take steps to prevent children from getting involved in gangs, by providing them with the necessary support and resources.