Advocate Md.Rayhan Ali: The image of violence against women is rising day by day in the society. Violence and neglect against women is a major factor in the decline of society. Various steps have been taken and are being taken to prevent injustice, injustice, oppression and torture against women in the country. The perpetrators of violence against women are being punished by law.  In addition, a separate cell has been formed to prevent violence against women. The criminals are also being punished. News of rape of women is always heard in newspapers and magazines.  The rush of this crime is not going to be caught. Recently, the maximum penalty for rape is life imprisonment instead of life imprisonment.

Section 9 (1) of the Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Act 2000 (amended 2003) states that if a man rapes a woman or a child, he is liable to life imprisonment. Section 9 (2) of the same law states, "If a raped woman or child dies as a result of rape or post-rape activities, the rapist shall be sentenced to death or life imprisonment." Section 9 (3) states that if more than one person rapes a woman or a child in a group and a woman or a child dies as a result of that rape, each will be liable to life imprisonment or death penalty, a fine of at least 1 lakh rupees. The only reason for severe punishment is to catch the rush of this crime.  But sadly, despite the increase in the term of punishment, the crime rate has not decreased.

The non-governmental organization Ain O Salish Kendra compiles information published in nine newspapers and in its own process. According to the organization, domestic violence increased by 10 percent in the 11 months from January to November 2021 compared to 2020. The number of deaths including domestic violence and suicide has increased by 6 percent.  There have been 198 incidents of violence against women due to dowry.  Of these, 40 have been killed.

According to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the number of cases of abuse of women and children in Dhaka has increased by more than 3 percent in 2021 as compared to 2020. Cases of torture due to dowry have increased by 13 percent and murder cases due to dowry have increased by 200 percent.  The number of rape cases in 2021 is 2 times less than in 2020.  Adding the December figures is likely to increase the number of rape cases.

According to the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, based on the news published in 13 national dailies, child marriage has increased by 236 percent in 2021 as compared to 2020. Such information is being obtained from the news media.

 There are daily reports of women being tortured and raped.  There is no shortage of reports of distorted mentality of rape and abuse of wife by father, daughter by brother, sister or wife of son by father-in-law.  Have these crimes been reduced by strict laws? Certainly not. Many say that strict enforcement of the law can stop violence against women.  In fact, the statistics speak differently. Let me come to the main point of today`s discussion.  Are all the women who are victims of torture or rape in the society guilty or are these crimes being committed with consent? One answer cannot be said.  Because in a society where even a 7 year old child cannot be saved from the hands of the victim of rape, how can a single victim be blamed on a woman who has been raped. Some are victims of fraudulent rape, some are tempted to marry and others are raped against their will. Victim women have to face more shame than rape in the most difficult medical examination and testimony of Section 22 in the public court after the completion of the judicial proceedings of the victim.  She is a public victim of rape. The society looks down on that woman but the rapist walks with his head held high.

Literary writer, Umm Muslima also agreed with my opinion and said, `Rape is raped a few more times in the name of rape;  In the courtroom, during the medical examination and in the eyes of curious people.Again he was comforted and told, "Oh, the beast has taken away his honor!" The girl has to survive in the society by being unwanted, neglected, hated or she has to find peace by committing suicide.And for those who are killed after the rape, the relatives feel a kind of relief even though the society aha-uhu for them.This is the life of women `!

If the allegations of rape and torture of women are proved, their sentence is executed after the completion of the court proceedings,on the other hand, many criminals are acquitted due to lack of evidence. But who will give social status to the rape victim? She has no value in the society, she has to be humiliated and disgraced step by step.  Not being able to bear the burden of this humiliation and disgrace, many people resorted to suicide and many even wrote their names in the register of prostitutes to save the rest of their lives.The victim has to live a dark life despite not having the will.

And how many people in this society have come forward to extend a helping hand to those who want to re-emerge in the society by blaming the fate of their own life.Some come forward in the service of humanity and stand by the side of torture, but the number is very insignificant.Most of the time, a group of well-known men come to the side of the victims of rape or torture, whose main target is to save their interests at the end of the day.

Women are entitled to equal rights in the constitutional power but it can be said loudly in the speeches and speeches of the stage but in reality the question remains as to how positive the survey is.  In the 50 years of independence of this country, the empowerment of women is more than 26 years. Despite the empowerment of women for such a long time, women are not safe anywhere today. If you are a victim of any kind of torture, you have to keep yourself socially isolated; the future life of that woman is wrapped up. This has been seen in the survey

8 percent of married women in the country have been abused by their husbands at some point. Women have been subjected to physical abuse, sexual abuse, mental and economic abuse through their husbands.  In the last five years, 3,056 women have been raped in Bangladesh, according to figures from the human rights organization Law and ArbitrationCenter.

According to a survey conducted by the Women Lawyers Association, 90 per cent of the accused in rape cases are acquitted due to various reasons.  According to crime experts, the perpetrators of these incidents remain out of reach due to the presence of party men in the administration.Another reason to get through the shadow of a political party `.

So many statistics on violence against women are really a source of frustration.  A woman, first of all, never wants to go into any work that is socially degrading.  He was made a victim of various tactics.  Victic women also start dreaming of living like the first woman in the society and all other socially dignified women.  Maybe this dream becomes a shalil samadhi to various kinds of ugly tricks and mentality of men.

We are social creatures.Such a reality of the society seems to be completely clear before our eyes.The responsibility of restructuring the oppressed women of the society rests on all of us.The abused women are our mother, aunt, uncle, sister, niece, niece etc.The government and the people must work together to prevent violence against women.  Victims of torture need to be given all kinds of courage to live like normal women in the society, the hand of cooperation must be extended.We have to create a beautiful environment in Sonar Bangla without any discrimination between men and women.

Author: Md. Rayhan Ali,Advocate and Columnist, District Bar Association, Khulna. He can be reached at advrayhan520@gmail.com