Syed Shemul Parvez :
Rape incidents and violence against women are on despite the government approved the death penalty as highest punishment for rape. Experts and criminologists say rape incidents are occurring frequently as such crimes have become ‘epidemic’ at present.
Though protests, demonstrations and various rallies are taking place everyday across the country demanding the arrest and trial of the rapists, and when police are also arresting the accused from a strict position, surprisingly there is no improvement.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Md Shafiqul Islam issued directives to the deputy commissioners (DCs) to constitute quick response teams.
When asked Dr Hafiz Uddin Bhuiyan, Eminent Professor, Institute of Social Welfare & Research of University of Dhaka said that actually there are some causes behind the increasing of crimes like rape and violence against women.
As people of the country were confined in the residences last nine months due to worldwide covid-19 outbreaks, the mentality of the maximum people has been changed to the brutality.
The sociologists and criminologists also blamed the institutional weakness of the law and society for the increase of rape cases in recent times.
People cannot participate in their recreational work. So they depend on modern technology, various social media and porn sites, Dr Hafiz added.
Besides, stimulating lobe to the justice in the society is one of the major reason of rape and others crimes,
he further added.
“The people with criminal instincts exploit the weaknesses, and this attitude is encouraging them to rape,” said Professor Zia Rahman, the Chairman of Dhaka University’s criminology department.
“The institutional appeal of society is becoming obsolete. The institutions like family, neighbours and area-based organisations that taught us to exercise restraint, to have humanitarian values fumble,” he explained.
He also blamed “so-called social changes” and technological advancements for destroying the social bonding. “This has also happened in Western society. These are making us reckless when our social norms are being destroyed.”
Sources said that around 15 more rape incidents took place across the country last two days.
In Gazipur, police arrested at least three persons for allegedly raping a female garment worker in Kashimpur area of the district.
The arrestees have been identified as Shahdat, 35, Bayezid, 30 and Aminul, 28. They are dwellers of Sardaganj area of Kashimpur.
Quoting locals, Deputy Commissioner of Gazipur Metropolitan Police (GMP) Zakir Hossain said, when the woman reached near Square Gate area on Wednesday night, four men forcibly took her to a remote area and raped her.
In Narayanganj, police on Wednesday night arrested at least four accused teenagers over the charge of rape of a six grader girl in Siddhirganj of the district.
The arrested were identified as Nasir (19), Enayet (18), Ujjwal (15) and Ariful (18).
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother filed a case with Siddhirganj Police Station on Thursday morning, said Kamrul Faruque, Officer in Charge of the station.
In Rajshahi, a five-year-old minor girl has reportedly been raped by 16 years old boy in Khakhari area of on Wednesday noon.
Hours after the incident, the minor girl was sent to One Stop Crisis Center (OCC) of Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) for medical examination.
Accused boy Al Amin remained absconding since filing of the case with Chondrima Police Station on Wednesday evening.
Confirming the news, Sirajum Munir, officer-in-charge (OC) of the police station confirmed the news to the media and said that the teenager boy raped the girl at her house when her parents were at work On Wednesday noon.
In Noakhali, a woman was raped at gunpoint in Chatkhil upazila of the district on Wednesday.
Following the filing of a case by the rape survivor, police arrested a local Jubo League leader and seized illegal firearms in connection with the incident.
The arrested identified as Mujibul Rahman Sharif, 30, the President of Noakhola union unit Jubo League, was expelled by the upazila Jubo League high command following the incident.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Chatkhil police Station Md Anowarul Islam said, the victim has been sent to the Noakhali General Hospital for a medical test.”
“Sharif is wanted in eight more cases, including another rape case,” the OC said.
In Dinajpur, a 16-year-old college student has filed a case with the Nawabganj Police Station alleging rape against a local youth Firoz Kabir in Monirampur of Daudpur union of the district.
In Natore, Mominul Islam Momin, a local member of Ward 4 of Lalpur Upazila, has been accused of raping a housewife while promising to provide a job in a hospital. A case has been filed in the court in this regard
According to Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), a rights body, 975 women were raped, including 208 subjected to gang-rape, from January to September 30 of this year.
Of them, 45 were killed after rape and 12 others killed themselves.
For the last few weeks, Bangladesh has seen widespread protests in many districts against rising incidents of rape. Public fury reached a peak after the recent gang-rape incident at Sylhet MC College and a housewife’s molestation in Begumganj of Noakhali district.
Protesters including students, leaders, and activists of different organizations staged demonstrations throughout last week over the increase of rape, sexual harassment, and violence against women.
