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Police have said that the mystery surrounding Opratim’s killing has largely been unravelled and that preliminary findings indicate that he may have been killed over his mother’s iPhone. The investigation is still ongoing, and the suspected motive should therefore be treated as preliminary until the authorities conclusively establish the facts.
Yet the case highlights a broader issue that deserves public attention. Smartphones have become an integral part of children’s lives, serving as tools for education, communication, entertainment and access to information. However, when a child owns or regularly uses an expensive smartphone, particularly a high-end model, it can also attract unwanted attention and expose the child to potential risks. Children may not fully understand the value of such devices, the dangers of displaying them publicly, or how others could exploit their trust and innocence.
The responsibility, therefore, cannot simply be placed on children. Parents and guardians need to think carefully about what devices children are given, why they need them and how they use them. A child may require a smartphone for safety or communication, but that does not necessarily mean that an expensive flagship device is necessary. Parents should also teach children not to display valuable belongings unnecessarily, not to hand over devices to strangers or acquaintances without a valid reason, and to report suspicious behaviour immediately.
Schools, too, have an important role to play. Digital safety education should go beyond passwords, online scams and cyberbullying. Children must also be taught that what they carry or display in public can sometimes affect their physical safety. At the same time, society must avoid drawing premature conclusions by treating ownership or use of an iPhone as an explanation for a murder. Even if a valuable device is found to have been connected to a crime, that alone does not establish the full motive or justify blaming the victim or his family. Only a thorough, impartial investigation can establish what actually happened.
Technology companies and mobile operators can also contribute by strengthening child-safety features, promoting awareness and making security tools easier for families to use. Most importantly, society must stop treating children's safety as something that can be addressed only after tragedy strikes. We need preventive awareness before another child becomes a victim. If the investigation ultimately establishes that the iPhone was indeed the motive behind Opratim’s killing, it will be a devastating reminder that an object worth hundreds of thousands of takas can become a source of danger when placed in the wrong circumstances.
The tragedy surrounding Opratim’s death should encourage parents to think carefully about children’s access to expensive devices and to ensure that they understand basic personal-safety precautions. This does not mean depriving children of technology, but rather helping them use it responsibly and safely.