After the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Dhaka's Mirpur, a journalist took to Facebook, praying that the Almighty may never bless his family with a daughter in his lifetime. His words speak about the terror and desperation felt by many parents today in our country. In many societies around the world, including ours, the image of a harmonious family has always been represented by two children --- a son and a daughter. Yet in recent times, due to increasing cases of violence against girls and women in society, many families have begun rethinking that very dream.
In the latest incident of violence against an underage girl, second-grader Ramisa Akter was tricked into a neighbour's apartment, where she was raped and then killed brutally allegedly by neighbour Sohel Rana. What followed was even more horrifying --- she had her throat slit and her body chopped up, and all of this is said to have happened with her panicked mother knocking on their door looking for her missing daughter. The cruelty inflicted upon the poor girl is almost beyond human comprehension.
Bangladesh has certainly made huge efforts to combat violence against women and children. Governments, development agencies, activists and the media have worked for awareness raising, legal reform and advocacy programmes. Millions of taka have gone into projects aimed at women's protection. However, one cannot help but be appalled at how much more must still be done.
It is not simply the fact of violence being carried out, but the fact of the culture of impunity. Criminals feel free knowing that they may never face any penalty for their crimes. The recent publication of a study by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and BRAC titled 'Procedural Obstacles in the Women and Children Abuse Prevention Tribunal and Identifying Effective Ways to Overcome These Obstacles' shows just how bad the situation is. The statistics revealed by this study show that only 3.0 per cent of suspects accused of abuse are convicted, whereas almost 70 per cent of the suspects escape punishment. In addition, the study highlights the enormous delays associated with the legal process. Although the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and Children Act requires cases to be completed in 180 working days, it takes around three years and seven months on an average to finish just one case. These lengthy legal battles end up draining victims' families physically and emotionally. Witnesses lose interest and the public slowly forgets about it.
It is not surprising that Ramisa's grieving father never expected justice from the judicial process. "I do not want justice, as I believe you cannot ensure justice," was his comment, according to media reports. It is possibly one of the most alarming parts of this tragic story. Once citizens stop trusting in their state's capacity to deliver justice, its moral legitimacy begins to erode.
As a consequence, the perpetrator is left unbothered about any action in the future because, ultimately, justice is not being done in time. In this case, the state will have to realise that simply condemning such acts of violence through public expression will no longer serve its purpose. Rather, it needs to take concrete steps in response to the situation.
For this, special summary trials need to be conducted for heinous crimes committed against women and children. First of all, crimes related to raping and murdering minors must be given top priority by the government. Thereafter, cases must be investigated thoroughly and promptly without any negligence or politically motivated moves. However, punishing these criminals alone is no longer enough. Society must unite and stand against its deeply entrenched culture of misogyny, degeneracy and violence.
Ramisa Akter was supposed to be in her classes giggling with her classmates. However, her destiny turned out horrifyingly different. This incident left their parents broken and forever afraid of the safety of their children in their home and community surroundings.
In this day and age, such fears should not become the norm. While justice should be served, it must be administered promptly. If it is not, there will be more and more fathers expressing their despair like Ramisa's father. More people will be praying to God for not giving him a daughter.
rahmansrdk@gmail.com
