Islam regards women with the sincerest epitome of respect, whereas in Hinduism females are the face of deity. However, in contradiction, females are in a rather peripheral position in the societal structure of Bangladesh. The social system that accommodates the practice of male dominance is a huge factor behind any such discriminatory harassment. The need of imposing supremacy over females and establishing a more superior stand is usually channeled via cheap mediums like sexual harassment. Although eve-teasing is recognised as a public nuisance around the world, it has taken a more brutal shape in Bangladesh, resulting in horrifying consequences.
The recurring offence was put into greater concern with the recent incident at Teacher-student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University during the Pahela Baishakh 1422 celebrations. It would be safe to reason their unreasonable behaviour with negative attitude towards women, abuse of political power and lack of education or any sort of judgment. Despite the fact that incidents as such raising awareness and anger among people for a time-being before the protest fades off, the scar remains strong among the victims. A research suggested that 91.3% women in Bangladesh have suffered some form of eve-teasing, most of whom fall within the age-group of 10 to 18 years. Persistence of such offence ends up being a traumatic experience for most women. The unbearable physical and mental humiliation caused by such high degree of eve-teasing often results in terminal decisions such as suicide. The intolerable offence as well as the added exposure via media can often result in adverse consequence and makes matters worse for the victims. In a country like Bangladesh, the younger girls who are victims to such threats are often made to stop their education and be home-bound. Their families stand strong in favour of saving their lives than continuing education. Child marriage is also an alternative the families instantly opt for, whenever posed with risk. Eve-teasing has been recorded as the main cause of children's forced marriages and according to UNICEF report of 2009, 64% or more girls were bound to marry before maturity to save them from the clutches of eve-teasers. In other cases, the trauma often drives the victims as well as the families under prey to mental disorder. The social stigma becomes too horrid to handle and the entire family dynamics change. The ceaseless blame-game comes off as no help, and distresses the victims furthermore.
In severe cases, eve-teasers do not hesitate going extreme, in the forms of murder, acid-release, loot, rape or torture. Such actions mostly go unreported due to the weak legal framework of Bangladesh. The lack of immediate action or prosecution often encourages the teasers to keep teasing and the victims to keep mourning in silence. It is also assumed that the numerous loopholes and farces in the law enforcement system allow the perpetrators to slide out unpunished.
The banishment of this stigma requires a comprehensive reformatory system. Starting from an all-inclusive legal framework to raising the right kind of awareness could give an effective head-start. Raising awareness and implementing the right measures, in correspondence with an imperative role of the media would include the society in resolving the issue together. The families of the victims must also step forward and adapt a supportive and protesting attitude towards dissolving the curse. Eve-teasing is the result of various social factors, thus law stands as a small part of the whole necessary prescription. To discard the deep psychological scars and negative consequences suffered by the victims, the society as a whole must serve as an overwhelming antidote against it.
The writer is a BBA Student at Institute of Business Administration, University of Dhaka
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