A Father May React Harshly to Protect His Child: Mahbub Kabir Milon
Former Additional Secretary Mahbub Kabir Milon has said that a father may react strongly and immediately when trying to protect his child from danger. He stated that in such a situation, a parent might respond emotionally without waiting for a judicial process. Milon added that he would react similarly if faced with such circumstances and might respond even more firmly.
He shared his views in a Facebook post on Saturday, October 24. Alongside discussing a parent's immediate response to a threat against a child, he reflected on child safety, personal boundaries and differences in social attitudes between Bangladesh and other countries.
Recounting an experience from Singapore, Milon said he once saw a child, approximately five or six years old, sitting alone at a bus shelter on a quiet road. Concerned that the child might be lost or in danger, he approached the child to speak. However, a Singaporean relative accompanying him quickly asked him to move away. According to Milon, the relative explained that an unfamiliar adult approaching a child could attract suspicion, while the police could be contacted if a child appeared to be in danger.
Milon also shared an incident involving his niece, who lives in Australia. He said she had moved to Australia when she was young and later visited Bangladesh at around five or six years of age. During the visit, he kissed her on the head affectionately. According to his account, the child later asked her mother why her uncle had touched her. Milon noted that the incident had occurred in front of the child's mother. He cited the experience as an example of how children can be taught about personal boundaries and safety.
In his post, the former official praised the role of education, law and a healthy social environment in the progress of developed countries. At the same time, he expressed concern over crime, corruption and abuse in Bangladesh. He argued that the roots of these problems run deep and warned that the situation could deteriorate further without meaningful change.
Milon also criticised aspects of the country's justice system. He argued that the expectation of obtaining bail after committing an offence could contribute to a sense of impunity among offenders. His comments raised concerns about the misuse of bail and the need to ensure accountability for criminal acts.
He further discussed the relationship between religious observance and moral conduct. His remarks emphasised that practising religion should go hand in hand with avoiding wrongdoing, corruption and criminal behaviour. He criticised the attitude of treating religious practice as an excuse to overlook unethical conduct.
Milon's comments brought several issues into focus, including parental concerns for children's safety, children's right to personal boundaries, public awareness and the effective enforcement of the law. At the same time, protecting children requires not only an immediate response to potential danger but also safe and lawful action.
