Stop sexual harassment of women

An online survey of over 5,000 women spread across 24 districts of the country has revealed that nearly 87 per cent of them have faced some form of harassment at least once in their lives. Other than public transport, streets, shopping malls and online platforms too happen to be places where women have been targeted. Sexual harassment, indecent remarks, groping, following and stalking have become so common in our society that they are no longer considered a crime. As a result, it encourages the tendencies to commit such crimes again and again.

From a woman visiting groceries to a girl going to school, no one is safe on the streets almost all across the country. Women continue to fall victims to harassment which at times leads to their suicide. Since most of such cases remain unreported, the actual number is thought to be much higher. Mere lip service is not going to help and the authorities concerned must ensure enforcement of laws that are already in place.

Fariha Tabassum Piya,

Student of Department of Management,

University of Dhaka, Dhaka,

[email protected]