A matter of contagion

Recent incidents of rape have shocked the whole nation. 

The ferocity of these disgraceful individuals defy imagination. How can a two-year-old girl-child be violated so? The answer to this question speaks to the morality level of these individuals.

A 15-year-old girl became the victim of rape inside the goods-laden truck in Narayanganj. In another incident, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly raped in Parbatipur upazila of Dinajpur.

Furthermore, a man confessed that he raped a college girl -- locking her for seven months in Tangail. How atrocious a man can be! A school-girl was allegedly raped in Mirpur of Dhaka. The incidents are never-ending.

Innumerable incidents have been happening in recent years, and the rates are ever-increasing. This year, the highest number of cases of sexual violence against women was reported back in April, which many resulting in pregnancies.

According to Ain o Salish Kendra, 599 incidents of rape and overall sexual violence took place from January to October of this year, as per reports in the Dhaka Tribune. This is a horrible figure to be worried about.

Victims have been reportedly violated -- pictures have been taken, videos have been uploaded to social media, the act has been filmed, and it just keeps getting worse.

A recent report says that only 3% of offenders are convicted for rape in Bangladesh. When one has perpetrated, and been spared through the shelter of different quarters associated to power and authority, then the offender who gets away inspires other individuals to commit further crimes. 

Families are no longer safe for girls and women -- maternal, paternal uncles, close relatives, and even fathers are abusing the children.  

The incidences of rape in our country have now created a threatening situation for the security of women and girls, as well as for their education and freedom. Will any guardian be comfortable sending female members of their family outside, alone without a good reason?

Women have been oppressed in this country for so long, and these incidents are pushing them back into houses -- they are losing their freedom.

In addition to adult women being raped, college and school-going girls are falling prey to the heinous act of rape. 

The perpetrators must be handed down exemplary punishment, which should be tantamount to capital punishment or lifelong imprisonment. There should be a zero-tolerance policy on all kinds of sexual repression. 

The government and law enforcers have a significant role to play in reducing the number of rape occurring in different places across the country. 

Moves to rein in the contagion of rape through the enforcement of stringent laws regardless of political power are effective ways of protecting women and girls from rape are necessary.

We must ensure proper coordination in the steps among departments that are involved in the judiciary system.

Moral education has also become a needful and essential part of life that needs to be cultivated among generations. 

Families should take responsibility to become aware of all forms of violence, and teach their children of morals with a view to creating mutual understanding and fellow-feelings between females and males, so that the word rape can be erased from the dictionary of our society. 

Kirtton Chandro Das is an undergrad student of the Department of Women and Gender studies, University of Dhaka.