Dhaka:Lasting solutions to social crises and crimes require psychological transformation and coordinated community-level psychosocial initiatives, stated Women and Children Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Prof Dr AZM Zahid Hossain. He emphasized that relying solely on law enforcement, court trials, and institutional expansion is insufficient.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister highlighted the importance of thoroughly analyzing the underlying social and familial causes behind crimes to ensure lasting remedies. He made these remarks as the chief guest at a national seminar organized by the Clinical Social Workers Association of Bangladesh (CSWAB) at Dhaka University's Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
Zahid pointed out the demographic challenges of Bangladesh, where women make up 51 percent of the population and 34 percent are under the age of 18. He stressed the need for targeted psychosocial interventions for these groups, particularly in light of the country's 51 percent child marriage rate. He noted that legal enforcement alone cannot eliminate child marriage without changing social attitudes and raising awareness about its harmful effects.
The minister also addressed the shortage of trained frontline social workers, advocating for a stronger grassroots workforce to deliver social services. He called for a community-based network for social welfare similar to those in the agricultural and health sectors. Zahid mentioned ongoing government efforts to transform existing institutions into people-centered organizations and urged collaboration with NGOs, researchers, and academics.
State Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr M A Muhit, speaking as a special guest, emphasized the need to increase public awareness about mental health. He pointed out that depression can affect individuals who appear healthy and function normally. Dr Muhit identified adolescent mental health, digital addiction, and parental separation as emerging concerns and called for more focus on intimate partner violence, domestic trauma, and perinatal and postpartum depression.
The seminar was presided over by CSWAB President Prof Tahmina Akhtar, with Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam attending as a guest.