Two young female students, standing on a rickshaw, audaciously chanting slogans by raising their right hands with a vigorous posture of protest, ignoring heavy rain. They are surrounded by their fellows on the street who are all marching at droho jatra on August 2 in Dhaka with the one-point demand -- ouster of Sheikh Hasina. The scene becomes an iconic picture of the July mass uprising led by students that ultimately forced Sheikh Hasina to step down and flee to India for shelter on August 5 last year. The picture also strongly symbolises the girls' active and daring role in making the mass uprising against the tyrant Hasina regime a success. There are some other iconic pictures and many more stories of girls who daringly faced the brutal force of the now-ousted oppressive regime.
Against such a backdrop, it was rational to expect that the observance of International Women's Day on Sunday last would be different in the country. Besides recognising the role of girls and women during the mass uprising, their persistent struggle and contribution would get a better focus. It is, however, a matter of disappointment that several incidents of abusing and hurting girls and women ruined the spirit of the occasion.
What happened to an eight-year-old girl child in Magura is more than outrageous. On Thursday (March 06), a male relative raped and injured her, and she is now dead. The incident reflects the extreme insecurity of the girl children in a society where a section of men has already turned inhuman. It is not that new, as the country has witnessed similar incidents over the years. It doesn't mean that society has to keep mum and allow such heinous crimes to happen. The culprits must be given proper punishment through the rapid trial mechanism.
Again, the verbal abuse of a female student at Dhaka University campus by staff regarding so-called inappropriate dress is another alarming incident. Following the victim's formal complaint, Shahbagh police arrested the harasser. Later, a group of people gathered there and demanded his release. Police, however, sent him to court, from where he was granted bail. The harasser was also garlanded by the group that identified itself as 'Touhidi Janata.' The most dangerous part of the whole incident was the so-called 'Touhidi Janata' who stood beside a harasser. They backed him on the plea that the man did the right thing by asking the female to wear an appropriate dress! What message the so-called group is sending to the others? One should instead ask them whether the harasser did the right thing by looking at some unknown women and hurling abusive language at them, which is not religiously permitted.
Meanwhile, students at different public universities at midnight on Saturday last burst into protests against the series of abuses and assaults on women across the country in recent times. They have demanded capital punishment for the rapists and also called for the resignation of the home adviser for his failure to do so.
The rise of the incidents of assaults and rapes of women one after another clearly indicates the deep rot in society in a deplorable law and order condition. The rot has been patronised by the political parties over the years. During the Hasina regime, the Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) emerged as a strong group of women abusers in different educational institutes in the country with impunity. Over the years, a group of extremists continue to spread hate speech against liberty and the free movement of women in the name of religious obligation. The unchecked access to porn videos through smart-phone has also contributed to the rise of violence against women. Over the years, most of the crimes against women and children have gone unpunished.
So, it is high time to take stern action against all types of abusers and violators and promote social resistance. The holy month of Ramadan brings an opportunity in this regard. Coordinated sermons in Mosques in the country against such crimes to make people aware of it may be helpful. Senior citizens in different neighbourhoods may come together and ask the youths to join them in resisting such incidents. Families should guide and control the boys to refrain from disrespecting girls. Law enforcement agencies also need to be more active.
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