IT was April 29, 2017. A poor farmer, Hazrat Ali (45), in Sripur of Gazipu, along with her eight- year old daughter jumped under a running train. A local goon was repeatedly harassing his daughter. Though Hazrat Ali complained several times to local authorities as well as police, none paid any heed to him. Even after his complaints, the goon took away their only cow. Failing to draw any attention of the law enforcing agencies, Hazrat Ali was thoroughly disappointed and out of sheer frustration to save his daughters' chastity from him, Hazrat Ali took the ultimate decision to commit suicide along with his little daughter.
It was March 28, 2017. Two university students were raped in a posh hotel at Banani. To save themselves from harassment, the girls did not lodge any complaint to the police. But later on following repeated harassment by the accused, the girls finally lodged a complaint at Banani Police Station. But despite several attempts by the victims, the police refused to accept it. When the news item was published in several national newspapers, under immense public pressure, the police received the case. Surprisingly, they did not make any useful attempts to arrest the accused although several days have passed even after they took the case.
The above two most recent incidents are a painful repetition of the same old story. It is true that the accused in the second incident are elites and powerful people with strong political links but the accused of the first incident is just an ordinary local goon. It should not be difficult for the law enforcing agencies to pick him up. It is true that violence against women is a serious offence, but it is far too alarming that our law enforcing agencies and local public representatives are neglecting these issues.
Shamshad Mahal
Student, Department of Economics
East West University
[email protected]
- Monday, 29 April 2024 |
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