Speedy trial of rape cases

Among a number of news pieces, one that has horrified me most is that a woman has been gang-raped in a moving bus in Gazipur. She and her husband boarded the bus of Taqwa Paribahan from Gazipur to Mymensingh on Friday night. When most of the passengers dropped off, five people of the bus threw off her husband and raped the woman. The victim's mobile phone and money were also snatched away during the incident. A similar incident took place just a few days ago in Tangail. A group of robbers who took control of a bus allegedly gang-raped another woman in a running bus. These two incidents shocked us and raised the question of women's safety in public transport.

Violence against women has increased manifold across Bangladesh. Many women have been raped recently although the government announced the death penalty for the crime of rape. Stringent punishment to the perpetrators of violence against women is urgent. A speedy trial can act as a deterrent.

Afroza Sheikh,

Dania, Dhaka,

ilcbd2008@gmail.com