Editorial
Monstrous barbarity
Culprit must face the full force of law
This is a poignant story of a helpless schoolgirl of class VIII, who fell victim to sexual assault by her nearly middle-aged neighbour. The victim is now fighting death with serious burn injuries at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital's burn unit. All because the perpetrator of the crime would not take the responsibility for the consequent pregnancy now in its seventh month caused to the girl.
The manner in which the crime has been committed is a stark reminder of the abominable length to which the criminal and his accomplice, a distant aunt of the victim, had gone to impel the girl to leave her home on the pretext that her father had met with an accident. Actually, her father was out for the esha prayer.
No sooner had the girl stepped out of the house than the criminal duo gagged her and doused kerosene on her before setting her afire.
It's a typical case of how vulnerable a young girl from a poor family can be in the rural setting to the lustful exploits of free wheeling rogues. In fact, there is a message for the community and law-enforcers in that despite being sexually exploited, the girl still wanted to be the second wife to the man who already had two children by his first marriage.
The utter sense of outrage felt over the incident demands expeditious apprehension of the perpetrator and make him an example of most deterrent of punishments law can hand him down. The criminal's accomplice Josna is in police's hands, which should be of help to ferret out the culprit.
At this stage, what is imperative is that the girl and her parents should get the protection against any intimidation and threat on their personal security.
The victim girl should not only get all kinds of medical treatment to save her life, but also receive adequate legal aid so that justice is done to her. Under no circumstances, the culprit should be allowed to escape the long arm of the law.
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