Think of the children

If someone asks, on what does the future of a nation depend, then the answer will undoubtedly be that it depends on the next generation. 

One day, they will grow up, take responsibility, and serve the nation. But, the time has now come to ask whether this society will even give them such a chance? 

Maybe it will not. Because, when a society is continuing to fail to ensure the safety of its children, how can we expect that the next generation will get the chance to survive and serve our nation? 

Rape has become a common part of the news nowadays. But if we claim that our percentage of literacy has increased and poverty has decreased, then a question must be asked: Shouldn’t the presence of literacy and the absence of poverty also eliminate the poverty of the mind? 

In this modern era, even the most literate people blame a woman’s clothes for rape. How do they then justify child rape?

According to a report of the Dhaka Tribune, 308 children were raped in Bangladesh just this year. Out of this number, 22 had physical disabilities, 18 were killed after being raped, and 10 went on to commit suicide. 

Imagine, if this continues, how many children will be victimized by the end of the year? It is not acceptable and it must stand as a matter of great shame for us and our nation. 

Because we continuously failed to protect the children of this land, Bangladesh will not forgive us.

Nowadays, reports of the newspaper show that male children are also victims of rape. But existing laws don’t even begin to define the rape of males. It is merely defined as an unnatural offense.

And while there are loads of laws out there to protect female children, due to a lack of implementation, they don’t work. 

Section 376 of Penal code 1860, Nari O Shishu Daman Ain, 2000 dictate what these punishments should be. 

Why, then, has the rate of rape continued to increase so alarmingly? Can we assume that the culprits do not fear the law? 

If yes, then why not? Maybe they can easily get bail, or there’s a weak charge sheet, or simply there’s a lack of evidence, or the process is delayed, or that they have political backing. 

Whatever it is, we have to find out the answer. Otherwise, as a nation, we will lose our dignity. 

If we protect our children and don’t make the land safe for them, we will not be able to forgive ourselves. 

Kalyan Chakroborty is a student of law, North South University.