How to stop rape epidemic

It has been such a talk of the country that we must be ashamed of the situation prevailing. It's horrifying for individuals, families, women and society as a whole. A few months ago, a Dhaka University student was raped on the busiest sidewalk in the busiest city of Dhaka. A few weeks ago, a garment worker was gang-raped on a bus in Cumilla. The recent incident of gang-rape of a young woman on MC College in Sylhet is scary while video footage of the scene of repression of a housewife of Noakhali adds to such horrors.

In our country, punishment for rape is life imprisonment but it appears that the rapists continue to show their power and do not bother about possible legal actions. The perpetrators somehow feel that they would remain out of touch. At the same time, this trend shows the state of education. However, people have started realising that the situation is turning dangerous and many of them are raising voice. That's a ray of hope. In this context, the authorities concerned need to take stock of the situation to identify why such incidents are taking place and take remedial measures.

Emran Emon

Deptt. of English, Chittagong University.

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