Few people are aware that August 24 is observed as the Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Dibas (the Day of Resistance to Oppression of Women) in this country. Even the media --- both print and electronic --- seem to have forgotten the tragedy that befell a 14-year girl named Yasmin in small hours of this day 26 years ago. That the rights activists and political parties, let alone the nation, gives a cold shoulder to the occasion is evident from the fact that it is observed by only women's organisations.
But here is both a tragic and disgraceful incident that can be considered more like a cardinal sin of its kind on the one hand and also triggered a massive outrage against sexual violence and killing by men in uniform on the other. Until then incidents of rape were rare and almost an anathema by the custodians of law whose duty it is to protect not to oppress the vulnerable. When common people of Dinajpur came to know about the incident, they came out in their thousands on the street to protest the barbarity of the police patrol team. As many as seven protesters were killed when the police fired on the procession heading towards the deputy commissioner's office to hand over a memorandum of protest.
The country has never seen any demonstration of this magnitude against sexual violence before and after the Yasmin rape and murder incident. So here was a chance of turning the incident into a most formidable challenge in the stream of national consciousness to sexual violence against girls and women. The women's organisations, particularly the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, did the right thing by commemorating the day as the Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Dibas. Incidentally, in English translation it has been wrongly represented as Day of Resistance against Repression against Women or Day for Repression against Women. The last one in particular is sure to raise many an eyebrow.
Even the special tribunal's milestone verdict for the death sentence for the three accused passed on August 3, 1997 and carried out on September 1, 2004 and September 28 had in itself all the making of a deterrent of historic proportion. Sure enough, the gap between the incident (August 24, 1995) and the start of the trial (September 21,1996) and that between the verdict (August 3,1997) and the execution (September 1 for two of the accused and Sept 28, 2004 for the remaining one) may have something to do to with the loss of momentum of the collective outrage and agony.
Meanwhile a few more such incidents, one of which was Seema rape and murder case, took place and the lewdness of sex perverts and predators got the better of the deterrent effect the verdict was supposed to have. It was a collective failure on the part of rights groups, social progressive forces and the media to carry forward the momentum. When the punishment of death by hanging should have received wider focus and formed a guiding force of national consciousness to a level where social resistance to sexual aberrations could be strong enough, the unity and sense of purpose were not forthcoming. It could easily be a national day of resistance to oppression of women without overlapping the theme of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The country now rues over the failure to mould public opinion against the crime and send a strong message to would-be perpetrators.
Today Bangladesh has turned into a place where sex crime has become contagious like a pandemic. The records of men in uniform are a mixed bag of sterling performances on some front but are not free from involvement in criminal activities, including sex offences, that often undermine their image. On top of custodial death, they at times are accused of favouring the perpetrators and harassing the victims. In one such latest incident, the father of a girl child was subjected to physical torture by an assistant superintendent of police inside a room of Shibalaya Police Station for expressing his intention to file a case against rape attempt on the child by a man of a family of political influence in the upazila.
The good thing is that not only has the ASI been suspended following media reports but also the officer-in-charge (OC) has been withdrawn from the said PS. Remarkably, aberrations by members of the police are not tolerated by the higher authorities these days but unfortunately, it does not work as a deterrent to the involvement in crimes by the former. The attitude of the police towards women is not separated from the darkness that reign in their hearts. This is why the law enforcement agency cannot play the role of defenders of women's rights and privileges.
In fact, like germination of a concept responsible for every momentous change in human civilisation, the idea of resistance happens first in mind only to be translated into actions step by step by succeeding generations. Failure to carry forward the good work through dedication and diligence is met with backlashes from negative forces. The legacy of the patrolling police team that committed outrage on a helpless girl has now vitiated the social environment of this country. Nothing sort of a cultural regeneration can successfully fight the sexual predatoriness. The nation shows no inclination for developing socio-cultural institutions and sports facilities in an increasing number to stem the rot. But it must opt for such extra-curricular activities as part of robust celebration of life to get the young generation out of preoccupation with sexual violence.
