As we in Dhaka gaze with irritating, stinging eyes caused by environmental dust, pollen, pollution and vehicle fumes; it's encouraging to at least see that 67 countries have banned corporal punishment to its children.

Regrettably, Bangladesh is not among them and one cannot help, but ask why not?

Are Bangladeshi children not deserving to be protected like children in the other 67 nations? What makes Bangladeshi children less valuable than, say, children in Sweden - which was the first nation to ban corporal punishment as far back as 1979?

Why are Bangladeshi children allowed to be beaten mercilessly in schools, madrasahs, child care centres, in their homes that possibly damage them mentally and physically for life? What are they doing wrong that would justify such abuse? Why are they considered to be of less value to, say, children in Sweden or any of the other 67 countries that have outlawed the horrific demonic practice?

It just doesn't make sense. It's cruel. It's inhumane and as every child is only on loan from Allah and is required to be returned eventually in good condition - like a library book - why are they so diabolically mistreated especially by those in madrasas who profess to abide by and adhere to the will of Allah? How does corporal punishment benefit the children? It's totally insane.

We know many of the alleged school "teachers" and imams are ignorant of the damage they have done (and are doing) and they should never have been employed as teachers in the first place. We know many parents are uneducated and ignorant and believe the corporal punishment dished out to them by their parents is in the best interest of their children. After all they, themselves, were subjected to it and it didn't do them any harm, they argue. (Allah take pity upon them as they stretch out for their hourly medication fix.)

In 2011 modern day Bangladeshi heroes Supreme Court Justices Imman Ali and Justice Sheikh Hassan Arif saw the damage that children faced daily. They attempted to bring sanity into the Bangladesh education system to rid Bangladesh of the horrific damaging scourge, declaring it to be: "cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and a clear violation of a child's fundamental right to life, liberty and freedom."

Some schools saw the wisdom and complied, while it was evil business as usual by the majority, especially in Madrashs. Children continued to be brutally beaten to a pulp, maimed, scarred mentally or physically for life, and absolutely hating school. Some choose to escape the torture and abuse by committing suicide. Imagine Allah-loving, law-abiding children yet to grow facial hair, declaring they had enough, couldn't take any more, and opting out of life. Shame on the corporal punishment perpetrators.

You'll find no support for such inhumane despicable behaviour condoned in the Holy Quran, the Bible, the Bhagavad Gita, the Tripitaka or any other religious texts - and there are over 1,000 - but it would do everyone an enormous amount of good to read them and try!

Just because children are small, that doesn't make them less human or less sensitive to hurt and pain or having lesser feelings about the cruelty inflicted upon them. If the children are the future of Bangladesh, they should be respected and treated as such.

Professor Yunus and the interim government could do what no other government has done throughout the history of Bangladesh and that's to eradicate corporal punishment in all settings and make massive beneficial change in the minds and hearts of the populace. What benefits are there in making children suffer through adult ignorance?

Noble statesman Nelson Mandela once said "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

It's time for Bangladesh to wise up and get real, ignore the errors and mistakes of previous administrations, and set an example by doing what's right and in the best interest of the nation.

Getting the education system right is a must for every nation. Forget the hollow headline-grabbing platitudes spat out ad nauseum, and instead show the children they are appreciated, respected, valued and protected in body and mind. Retire half of the present teaching staff if necessary and replace them with properly trained teachers who will bring out the best from each and every single pupil.

Schools should not be hellholes to be feared, hated, and despised, but a place where children feel safe, have lots of fun, and learn as if they were participating in a game, much better and more beneficial than Free Fire.

I remember my namesake, Frank Peters-Ali, when he was about six. He had packed his satchel and was heading off to school with a spring in his step and an award-winning smile draped across his face. He and his school satchel-carrying mum, Poppy, had made it just around the corner when they were met by another mum and her boy who told them the school was closed that day. Well, little Frank (Allah love him) burst into tears with disappointment as if his fun-park world had closed forever! ALL schools should be fun places to be and have similar effect. Children learn faster when they are happy.

Every child deserves to experience tears of disappointment, as Frank did. Over to you Professor Yunus, what is it to be; hellholes of torment, abuse, destruction and despair or education fun houses? For the new Bangladesh to be built on a solid foundation, corporal punishment must be banned in all settings.

Sir Frank Peters is a former newspaper and magazine publisher and editor, a humanitarian, a royal senior advisor and goodwill ambassador, an Honorary Member of the Bangladesh Freedom Fighters, and a foreign non-political friend of Bangladesh. E-mail: SirFrankPeters@gmail.com