Examining the Reasons of Growing Rape Incidents in Bangladesh
Rape is one of the fastest growing crimes and it has turned into a terrible epidemic in Bangladesh. The media of Bangladesh are flooded with the reports of rape. Women regardless of ages are being sexually abused by their acquaintances, relatives and strangers. The present article aims to investigate major catalysts for the rape crisis in Bangladesh.
Statistically speaking, the increasing rate of victims of sexual assault has been alarmingly higher in Bangladesh. According to Ain o Salish Kendra, a local human rights organization of Bangladesh, between January and September, about 1000 women are raped including more than 200 cases of gang-rape in Bangladesh. According to the statistics of 2019 regarding sexual offence in Bangladesh, 1413 women were victimized of differential sexual violence including rape and gang rape, 6 of them were murdered brutally and 10 committed suicide after being raped. On an average, at least 4 women are raped everyday in Bangladesh.
The statistics is definitely unable to portray the actual rape scenario. The actual number of the rape cases is much higher than the reported cases. Majority of the victims remain silent about the abuses considering family reputation and own dignity. These provide a favorable condition to sexual offenders to do sexual offences at their whim.
What actually causes a woman to be raped is a matter of endless debate. Some important factors are discussed below in the context of Bangladesh.
First, patriarchal belief of male supremacy makes females submissive in every sphere of the traditional society. The rigidity of gender biasness and male dominance over female primarily causes sexual violence. The context of Bangladesh is not anomaly at all in this regard. Rape is used as a weapon of domination and coercion against women, and children regardless any gender. Sexual violence is sometimes inspired out of anger and distraction or to express one’s masculinity as well as power and control. In such cases, rape is used as a means of revenge by the rejected male person.
Second, William E Gladstone, former British Prime Minister, stated “justice delayed is justice denied “. Delay in case procedure is another impediment to justice in Bangladesh. Most of the cases take huge time and need large expenses to be settled in courts. The sluggish court system demotivates the litigants to fight for justice or indirectly encourages settling the cases out of courts.
The unimplemented justice is contributing to an increase in violence against women. The large number of criminals is going unpunished, and getting protection from law enforces agencies. This shameful reality induces others to commit sexual offences in a habitual way. Hundreds of sexual crimes are occurred regularly; a significant number of these incidents are reported everyday at the police stations but most of the cases go unchecked and less concentration was put to punish the alleged properly. Moreover, the victims have to face non-cooperation and hostility from the on duty police. Sometimes the investigators and law enforcing agencies remain inactive because of external pressure or political influence. Sexual crimes increase not only because of the perpetrators but also because of the people who let it be occurred, thus pampering the offender. Victims often face impendence from the community leaders. The victim is compelled either to silence her voice or to compromise with perpetrators through money. This culture breeds injustice in the society and gives courage to commit sexual offence.
Third, the forensic medical examination is vital for a rape case prosecution as it helps to scientifically identify assaulter. There is a common tendency among the sexual victims to wash themselves as soon as they are raped. Evidence of rape may be lost or damaged for such mistake that may result in weak or incomplete report of forensic medical test. Forensic examination is most effective within 72 hours of rape but many of the victims are examined after 72 hours. It may be another reason for getting ineffective result in the forensic examination. For the negative or unexpected result from forensic examination and lack of evidences of rape weaken the procedure that disheartens the victims to fight for justice. It may finally result in dismissal of lawsuit against the accused.
Fourth, when a woman is abused in a public place, no one comes forward to protect her or raise voice to protest. Most of the pedestrians pass by the assaulted ignoring the incident as if they saw nothing. The harsh realities of this society have introduced us with such cruelty. This is a reason behind the offenders being courageous to commit sexual violence fearlessly even in a public place in Bangladesh
Fifth, it is claimed that pornography and drug addiction are partially responsible for the increase in rape rate. A guy addicted to pornography grows up with a perverted mind that normalizes any violent sexual offence for him to commit. A drug addicted person doesn’t think twice before committing rape. Spread of drug as well pornography among the youth society is directly responsible for increase in sexual violence in Bangladesh.
Finally, the saddest reality for women in the conservative society is that they are blamed for such male-projected sexual abuses in the post-rape stage. In particular, their revealing dress, and unrestricted movement are envisaged as major catalysts of men becoming rape-prone. If these were the cases, an infant, and a woman wearing modest cloths in Islamic manner would not be raped. Thus, rape is the manifestation of wild mentality of men. The culture of victim blaming breeds rapes by giving redemption to the culprits. It makes the victims psychologically dismal and socially segregated, and the target of social bullying, thereby provoking many to commit suicide.
Causes of rape in Bangladesh are multifold and these have loomed large in a process that the society of Bangladesh has nurtured with its conservative and patriarchic climate. Any solutions of rape should be based on addressing each of the rape catalysts.
