When will rape epidemic end?

Fear has taken root in every corner of our society today. Women are no longer safe anywhere-neither outside nor inside their homes. Each rape is not just a number; it's a life, a dream, brutally shattered. This cry echoes every moment in Bangladesh. Some women hide their pain out of self-respect and societal pressure, while the stories of others reach our ears. According to the Law and Arbitration Center (ASK), 4,787 rape incidents occurred from January 2020 to September 2024. Furthermore, a rape incident has taken place every nine hours over the last four years.

Recent incidents have shaken every person in society. As a result, people have expressed strong condemnation and protest on social media, and general students have demonstrated in various colleges and universities.

According to the Women and Child Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020, the maximum punishment for rape is the death penalty or life imprisonment with rigorous imprisonment. However, its practical implementation is beyond imagination. In many cases, rapists are granted bail, and no strict measures are taken against them. Furthermore, due to the extremely slow pace of the judicial process in Bangladesh, victims experience great pain and frustration.

Many victims lose hope of obtaining justice due to the long delays in the judicial process.

To address this serious issue, various steps must be taken at different levels. First, social awareness needs to be increased, and the legal system must be strengthened. Delays in cases must be prevented, and strict punishments for perpetrators ensured. Legal assistance must be made easily available to victims. Moral and ethical education should be provided to students, both in families and educational institutions. Above all, law enforcement agencies must be vigilant to ensure the safety of the country. If this problem is not resolved quickly and the law is not strictly enforced, our society will spiral into a deeper crisis.

Rakhi Akter, Student

Eden Mohila College

rakhiaktermim85@gmail.com