Nusrat Jahan || Own reporter

Date:17.03.25

“The Horror of Rape: The Silent Cry of a Terrible Society”

Recently, the incident of rape in Bangladesh has turned into a terrible epidemic. Every day when we open the pages of the newspaper we see the promise of unspeakable cruelty rained upon innocent lives. All around were cries, tears and silent prayers for justice.

Nature is in pain today, bloody! The air is getting heavy with the cries of mothers and sisters, the sky seems to want to collapse with mute cries. Innocent children are losing their childhoods today, potential teenage girls are lost in the darkness of nightmares. Darkness of night or light of day – nothing is safe!

An eerie darkness has spread all around, where the ghouls are pawing at the tender, tender flowers. Dreams are being shattered, the light of possibility is being extinguished, the urge to survive is becoming terrifying. Are we living in a society where the cries of the innocent echo on the walls, but the doors of justice remain closed?

The Horror of Rape: A Silent Cry

Rape – the word does not only express a crime, it carries the history of a thousand broken dreams, echoes of innocent cries, and a gruesome reality. Rape has become an epidemic in Bangladesh today, where even an innocent four-year-old child is not spared. Every day this terrible evil is increasing, destroying thousands of potential lives. How many lives, how many dreams are being wounded by the black paws of some human beings in the society! It is like a nightmarish society, where women’s screams are drowned in the air, justice is silent, and conscience is deaf.

What does the survey say?

The horror of rape in the society is not only a matter of feelings, but it is also depicted in statistics as a sad reality.

🔹 Picture of the last two months of 2024: 294 women and children were victims of violence in January and February alone. 96 rape victims, including 44 children. 17 women and girls were victims of organized rape. 2 people were killed after the rape.

🔹 Year 2023: According to the data of Law and Arbitration Center (ASK), 574 women and children were raped in 2023. Among them, 138 are victims of organized rape. And brutal death of 33 people after rape, out of which 9 people were killed by gang.

🔹 Year 2021: According to the survey of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, 810 cases of rape occurred this year. 225 victims of organized rape, 192 attempted rapes, 96 victims of sexual harassment.

🔹 Year 2017: According to Prothom Alo data, 1,251 cases of rape, gang rape 224, murder after rape 58.

What do these statistics tell us? It is spreading like an epidemic!

Where is the safety of women?

A younger sister was serious, she will go to elder sister’s in-laws house. There he was supposed to be bathed in caress, affection, and love. But what did he know? Where guests are supposed to be entertained, there are ferocious vultures! The innocent body will be torn apart by the poison of their lust!

The sweet smile of the child sleeping on his father’s chest is a scene of immense peace! In absolute faith, he seeks shelter in the shadow of love. But alas! Today the daughter is not safe with the father! The tender hands of childhood, which once held the father’s finger tightly and learned to walk, today those hands tremble with fear!

Where are women safe today? On the way, at the wharf, during the day, at night – nowhere! Not even within four walls! The house that was once his safe haven, now he has to breathe and survive in that house. Go out ugly, every turn to get camel paws! Is his path full of traps?

Society’s attitude towards rape victims

Rape is not only a heinous crime, it is a terrible fire that consumes all the dreams, beliefs and existence of a woman. Although the physical wounds have dried up, society’s glare paints a black mark on his heart, which can never be erased.

A rape victim is only victimized once, but she is punished daily by the society. The wounds on his body may fade with time, but this cruel game of character assassination continues forever. The thorny questions come up from all around—”Why was he out that night?” “How was her dress?” “Why didn’t she scream?” “Is his character alright?”

But, when a Hafez daughter is kidnapped and raped, does this society still ask the same question? When a clueless four-year-old falls victim to the lust of a vampire, will he still be judged for his clothes?

Countless women go from door to door hoping for justice, but only the voice of some families comes with the chilling advice — “Keep quiet, what will people say?” “The girl will not marry!” “Will there be family honor?”

When the value of a woman’s dignity is fixed at only one lakh rupees in the court of justice, how deep can the decline of the values ​​of this society go? Unable to bear the burden of this intense pain, how many women choose the path of suicide – some hang from the gallows, some drown in the river, some even cut the veins of their hands, but basically they do not commit suicide, they are slowly killed by the inhuman behavior of the society!

Punishment for rape: how terrible around the world?

How severe is the punishment for rape in different countries around the world? Let’s take a look at the punishment for rape in different countries of the world.

Saudi Arabia: Rape is punishable by death.

Iran: Rape is punishable by public hanging or shooting.

United States: The punishment for rape varies from state to state, but most cases are life imprisonment.

India: Rape of children under 12 is punishable by death.

Pakistan: Rape is punishable by death or 10-25 years in prison.

Malaysia: Imprisonment of up to 30 years.

Iraq and Bahrain: Rape is punishable by death.

Law against rape in Bangladesh: how effective?

Although Bangladesh has strict laws against rape, its effectiveness in practice is questionable. Although the legal framework is strong, the slowness of the judicial process, lack of evidence, social and political influence, and negative attitudes towards victims often help criminals to escape punishment.

Conclusion: No matter how strict the law is, if it is not enforced effectively, crime will not decrease. It is possible to change this situation by ensuring strict prosecutions, tribunals, and a change in society’s attitudes against rape. We must work together to make society safer