Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has adopted a zero-tolerance policy against corruption and other forms of crimes.
As part of the policy, law enforcers have taken a tougher stance against violence against women, including rape.
Within a short time, law enforcers have arrested the accused in several incidents of violation.
In the month of September, there were some incidents of violation across the country. Law enforcement agencies took immediate steps and nabbed almost all the criminals.
Some local youths were involved in gang rape of a woman at Murari Chand College (MC) in Sylhet on September 25.
On getting information, Sylhet Metropolitan Police instantly raided the hostel of the college and rescued the victim.
Police took quick steps to identify all the accused and conducted special drives to arrest all the accused in connection with the gang rape inside the college dormitory.
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Sylhet Metropolitan Police Commissioner Golam Kibria said, “We are taking all measures against rapists as per law.
We have arrested seven persons in connection with the rape, he said, while adding, we shall arrest everyone whose names come up during the investigation.
RAB-9 Camp Commander Lt Col Abu Musa MdShariful Islam told this correspondent that they had arrested four accused in connection with the gang rape.
SMP sources said that they arrested another three people for their alleged involvement in the gang rape.
Among the six named accused, all six were arrested.
Md Maruf Hossain Sorder, Superintendent of police (SP) of Dhaka district told Bangladesh Post that they give priority to every case of murder, rape and robbery.
Meanwhile, at about 8:30pm on September 20, Nila Roy, 14, a 10th grader at Aced School in city’s outskirts Savar, and daughter of Narayan Roy, was hacked allegedly by stalker Mizanur Rahman Mizan in the Bank Colony area when she was going to a doctor along with her brother on a rickshaw.
Mizanur Rahman was picked up from Ulain area of Savar municipality on last Friday night.
Anna Minj, Director of Community Empowerment Programme and Integrated Development Programme of BRAC, the world’s largest NGO, said rape and other types of violence against women have increased particularly during the time of coronavirus in the country. She said, “The support services for the rape survivors are slightly less available. Main attention goes to the corona crisis.”
She admitted that the accused are being arrested promptly. “But if you go back just one and half months, you will see that there was no focus on issues of violence against women,” she further said.
She said, “Support services are not going for the survivors promptly and adequately. There are some dilemmas. A rape victim must get medical support. But whenever any rape victim goes to the hospitals, they first have to undergo Covid-19 diagnosis before being provided necessary medical support,” she opined.
She clearly said violence survivors are not getting adequate support instantly due to the corona crisis.
Sometimes, violence survivors need to go to shelter homes. But shelter homes were also closed, she continued.
She said, “Different development organizations which provide legal and shelter home support for the victims, also did not provide support for the victims. Because of coronavirus, they were closed.”
Talking to Bangladesh Post, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Headquarters (Media and Public Relations) Mir Sohel Rana said, “Bangladesh Police always gives top priority to all incidents of violence against women and children, including for rape. We are continuously trying to enhance the quality of our services.”
He said, “Bangladesh Police has several victim support centers. We have women support centers and women complaint cells in metropolitan areas and district levels.”
We provide instant support through various ways including national emergency service 999, he further added.
He put emphasis on social awareness-building regarding violence against women.