Raising awareness against sexual harassment

The girl had only mistakenly boarded the wrong train, which altered the course of her life. I am referring to a recent unfortunate incident where a girl was raped when she mistakenly boarded the Lalmonirhat-bound 'Lalmoni Express' from Dhaka. Despite efforts by both the government and private organisations to ensure women's safety in public spaces, our daughters and sisters still do not feel secure.

In our social system, victims often encounter more challenges than perpetrators, especially in cases of sexual harassment. The girl's father expressed to journalists his reluctance to return to the village out of fear of facing social stigma and derogatory remarks about his daughter. Thus, they plan to reside in the city, where their tragic ordeal remains unknown to prevent further stigmatisation. This scenario sheds light on the profound helplessness experienced by victims of sexual harassment in our society.

The country's overall development will remain unattainable if we continue to suppress half of the population. It is evident that legal measures alone cannot eradicate rape and abuse. Therefore, everyone must acknowledge this reality. Only through increased awareness can we hope to diminish violence against women.

Md Saad Hossain

Student

Dhaka University