Musfique Prodhan
A young housewife of Chandina, Kumilla have reported been abducted by criminals and gang raped. These criminals were previously accused of seriously injuring the alleged victim, after failing to force her into submission to their lust.
http://www.prothom-alo.com/index.news.details.php?nid=MTY1NjY=
This is just not a isolated incidence of rape. According to the survey by "Odhikar" for a period of 7 years ( Jan 01 - Feb 2007), approaximately 6000 women were the victims of rape. There are enough reason to beleive that the actual number would be much higher than that, as the victims often refuse to report such crime in fear of social rejection, corruption/negligence by the police, time consuming judicial process, and mental torture during cross examination.*
The victim above had suffered the most common two pronged means of violence against women. Though there are very strong laws against Acid crime and Rape ( Acid Crime Control Act 2002 on 17 March 2002 and Suppression of Violence against Women and Children Act 2000 )
Under these laws, the convicted can be awarded from death penalty to life imprisonment along with hefty fines. And these laws have provissions to swift the judicial process, so justice could be served more effectively.
Despite the presence of such strong law, it seems that the number of rape victims in Bangladesh are on the rise.* And the news of conviction and sentencing of such crimes are rare.
This must be because of the weakness called "Bail System" in our judiciary. Exploiting of which, the accused either absconds or intimidates the victim's family to withdraw the case, or commits murder, or seeks refuge under political influence, to escape justice. Success to these tactics, are the true reasons behind the crimes to rise to a hightide.
People accused of rape or any kind of violence against women shouldnot be eligible to receive bail, under any circumtances, until the verdict is announced.
Traditionaly, Bangladeshi males are very protective about their women. Along with dream of independance, and counter against genocide, the rape of hundreds and thousands of their women, had been a vital catalyst for the Bangladeshis to be engaged in armed guerilla warfare.
Surprisingly, after the war, Bangldesh's social attitude had been extremely unfavorable to the rape victims. Despite branding them as"Birangona"'s and urge to accept them socialy by Bongobondhu himself, the response was extremely nominal. The result was devastating.
Some of these Birangonas had comitted suicide, some of them took refuge in the brothels and most of them headed towards an unknown destination. Later no one cared and they had become an unknown entity to the nation.
Even in the 90s, crimes like rape didnot turned into an epidemic. As I recall, during the rule of President Zia, one Dr. Iqbal was sentenced to death for murdering his wife. After such sentence was carried out, the violence against women was significantly reduced. In another such incident during the rule of Gen Ershad, Monir- a rich playboy was also sentenced to death for murdering his wife Rima. Which also brought down the rate of violence against women as well.
Such convictions and sentencing, carry out a clear message. People are reluctant to commit any crimes when they fear for the concequences. Sentencing criminals to maximum penalty so far have been found fruitfull to slow the crime rate, specialy against Women.
Unfortunately after a supposed "democraticaly" elected political Goverment took office in 1991, it seems that rate of violence against women have increased. Though the 2nd term rule of BNP Govt (2001-2006) should be credited for introducing tougher laws in favor of the victims.
Some beleive that, drug and porno epidemic in Bangladesh are the root cause of sexual crimes. And since, it is easier to escape/delay the justice by taking shelter under political influence as well, the criminals are more free to carry their evil.
Thankfully, despite their limitations, some NGO's have come forward to seek justice for crimes against women. But it is the society as a whole must condemn the rapists and should change their hatefull attitude towards the rape victims.
Unfortunately, the social weakness is such that, a wife gets divorced for been a rape victim, a daughter/sister is treated with utmost shame and brutaly gets barred from leading a normal life, when she falls victim to rape.
To make the matter worse, the illiterate / half educated Mullah's often call to punish the rape victims (non complaince with Islamic teachings), the full educated turns a blind eye, the law enforcing agencies and lawyers try to cash in maxium financial benefits and the politicians seek political benefits, out of a rape victim.
Women makes up 49% of our total population. Women is a mother, a sister, a lover and a life partner. So in order to achieve a stable society, we must provide peace and protection to them, whenever needed. It was never a Bangladeshi tradition to be engaged into sexual violence against women. So we must first detect the evil alien factors which is playing a key role for our changed attitude.
We must denounce any pathetic plight of the so called HR activists to spare the criminals from receiving maximum penalty, and carry out the death sentence to the guilty as recommended in the law. Also, anyone who is found advocating on behalf on such criminals, or found exploiting the rape victims, or tend to use wrong relegious teachings to punish the victims, should be treated as the criminal's accomplice. And should be awarded the same sentencing as the criminals.
People must not continue to harvest the same attitude towards a rape victim as they did in 1971. A girl doesnot inspire a rape, rather such henious ideas are manufactured in the brain of a maniac. And there is NO PLACE for sexual maniacs in this world, let alone the society.
So the nation must stand behind such helpless victims in every aspect of life, and the media should play a key role to educate people so they help to revive the normal life of a rape victim.
* http://womensphere.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/cross-examination-of-rape-victims-nothing-but-mental-torture-bangladesh/
* http://www.thedailystar.net/law/2007/08/02/index.htm
Caption: A rape victim of 1971 liberation war. Courtesy of Muktomona
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