The ‘power’ of the July movement is now reckless — Home Minister announces legal reforms to control teenage gangs

Special Correspondent

Dhaka, 31 May 2026

The Home Minister, acknowledging the reality that the juvenile gangs that played a role in the July-August student movement have now gone out of control after the fall of the government, announced a tough stance. He said that necessary reforms will be made in the existing laws to curb juvenile crime and opportunities to get away with using loopholes in the law will be closed.

A tool of the movement, now a headache for the state

It is undeniable that the spontaneous participation of teenagers and young people in the mass uprising of July-August 2024 gave impetus to the movement. But since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina government, a section of those same teenage gangs have become more reckless in the new political reality. Taking advantage of the power vacuum, shifting political patronage, and weak law and order situation, they have started engaging in various violent activities including stabbings, extortion, and land grabbing.

Home Minister’s confession and position

The Home Minister said that the situation has reached such a stage that there is no longer any opportunity to remain silent. He admitted that some special benefits of the existing law for juvenile offenders are being purposefully misused. With the assurance of legal exemption due to their young age, many are fearlessly getting involved in serious crimes and are gradually transforming into dangerous terrorists. In this reality, he commented that legal reforms have now become essential.

Questions from political analysts

Political analysts, however, see a kind of political irony in this announcement. Their question is, the same force that was used during the movement, is now having to be suppressed after the situation has changed — who is responsible for this outcome? They say that unless the culture of using teenagers for political purposes is stopped, legal reforms alone will not provide a permanent solution to the problem.

Experts’ observations

Sociologists and criminologists say that the roots of the problem of juvenile gangs are very deep. Political patronage, family breakdown, lack of educational opportunities and poverty — all of these create fertile ground for juvenile gangs. Therefore, in addition to tightening the law, it is important to pay equal attention to the correction, rehabilitation and creation of alternative livelihood opportunities for these juveniles.

Civil society demands

Victim families and conscious citizens say they want to see tangible action, not declarations. At the same time, they warn that the government’s biggest test will be ensuring that teenagers are never used as tools for political gain in the future.