Building social resistance against women's oppression

The modest achievements in women's empowerment that the country can now justly claim are threatened by the growing incidents of repression and violence against women reported from different areas of the country. Crimes against women are many and are taking more cruel forms. Apart from stalking and cyberbullying, the extreme instances of rape, gang rape and murder are occurring with frightful frequency. Recent incidents of violence and sexual assault against women and children have profoundly shocked the entire nation. The assaults of two young women for smoking, the harassment of a Dhaka University student for her dress, and the public beating of a woman in Bakerganj for protesting indecent behaviour have generated much public outrage. 

Adding to this, the rape of an eight-year-old in Magura stunned the nation, igniting protests across the country demanding punishment for the perpetrators. Alarmingly, even on International Women's Day, as protests continued demanding justice for recent rape victims, five new rape allegations involving girls aged between four and ten emerged from four different districts.

Media reports, however, are just the tip of the iceberg as most incidents go unreported because of the fear of stigma. Findings from some recent statistics reveal a sobering reality. The Violence Against Women Survey 2024 by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics disclosed that 70 per cent of women have experienced at least one form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime, with 41 per cent facing such violence in the past year alone. The forms of intimate partner violence surveyed include physical, sexual, economic, and emotional violence as well as controlling behaviour. Equally concerning is the prevalence of non-partner violence, which encompasses physical and sexual violence. About 16 per cent of women reported experiencing non-partner violence from relatives, neighbours, or strangers since the age of 15. According to the Human Rights Support Society, at least 6,305 women and girls were raped in the past five years, averaging over three rapes daily. 

While every incident of sexual harassment is deeply disturbing, the brutal rape incident in Magura, which left the eight-year-old victim fighting for her life, particularly horrified the nation, sparking off widespread protests. Protesters, including students, women's representatives, academics and cultural activists, demanded an end to impunity for sexual violence, the death penalty for rape and called for swift trials. It is a stark reality that in cases of violence against women, justice, even when not entirely denied, is often unreasonably delayed, emboldening perpetrators. Urgent measures, therefore, are needed to expedite the justice delivery process and address any loopholes in the law.

Responding to mounting protests, Law Adviser Asif Nazrul announced on 9 March that the government would amend relevant laws to expedite the trial process for rape cases. As per the proposed changes, he said, law enforcement agencies must complete investigations within 15 days, while trials must conclude within 90 days. Additionally, he said, bail will not be granted solely due to procedural delays, and penalties will be imposed for administrative negligence.

Under existing laws, rape trials are required to be completed within 180 days. However, delays in obtaining DNA certificates often prolong proceedings. To address this, the law adviser said, the interim government plans to establish DNA forensic labs in every district. However, in cases where a medical certificate is deemed sufficient, judges will have the discretion to proceed without waiting for DNA reports. 

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs launched toll-free hotlines for victims to report incidents anytime. Additionally, a dedicated cell will be established under the Home Ministry to monitor rape cases and prevent unnecessary delays in their resolution. While these measures sound reassuring, they must not become mired in bureaucratic red tape once the uproar subsides. 

As far as justice delivery is concerned, the alarmingly low conviction rate in cases of sexual violence against women and children remains a significant cause for concern. A recent report from a national daily revealed that of the 20,914 violence against women and children cases filed through 14 One-Stop Crisis Centres between 2001 and July 2024, only 1.48 percent resulted in convictions. This abysmal rate is compounded by factors such as biased police investigations, undue political pressure, and outdated evidence collection practices, all of which contribute to a steady decline in effective prosecutions. These systemic inefficiencies severely obstruct the justice system's ability to deliver justice to survivors and fail to act as a meaningful deterrent against such heinous crimes.

Beyond legal reforms and their strict enforcement, there must be social resistance against the evils and the people from all walks of life should protest against the oppression vehemently. No nation can achieve sustainable progress if half of its population is suppressed and denied the freedom to contribute fully to society. There are two aspects to the sufferings of women. One is discrimination and the implicit assumption that women are not equal and not capable of performing certain tasks. This mindset does not amount to criminality but is certainly regressive and reprehensible. While education and enlightenment can gradually address these societal prejudices, violent crimes such as rape, gang rape, and murder must be dealt with as serious criminal offences rather than merely as law and order issues. Such acts reveal a profound societal malaise in a male-dominated culture.

Meanwhile, many traditional practices continue to perpetuate women's repression, including dowry-related violence and fatwas against women in rural areas, despite legal prohibitions.  Women also face challenges in seeking legal redress. Domestic violence, for instance, often goes unnoticed unless it escalates into extreme abuse. Routine domestic abuse remains widespread, yet few women seek legal protection against their husbands. This issue is not confined to illiterate or impoverished families; even educated and well-placed individuals engage in abusive behaviour. Financial independence does not necessarily protect women from domestic abuse. A massive social movement is, therefore, needed to change these realities. Women's rights must not be reduced to a symbolic observance on March 8 each year.

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