Editorial
One gang-rape incident is one too many
Mass awareness with matching police action imperative
Two gang-rape incidents have been reported recently. In Tangail, a teenage girl was tricked by one of her recent acquaintances who said they were going to attend a wedding. Similarly, in the Savar case, it was again a female friend who led the victim to believe they would be visiting an ailing relative.
Thanks to the prompt police action that in both cases the rapists and their accomplices could be nabbed shortly after cases were filed with the police, followed by necessary medicare arranged for the traumatised victims.
All this gives reason for the parents and guardians to be watchful of the so-called friends and acquaintances of their daughters. Basically, young women themselves should also beware of such people.
It cannot be gainsaid that wide media coverage of these two recent gang-rape incidents has played a crucial role in expeditious police action.
In fact, many of the incidents do not ever see the light of the day. All because of fear of social stigma. Besides, social influence of culprits proves to be an inhibition. Little wonder, police action is either wanting or not prompt enough.
So, to combat this degrading behaviour against women, side by side with the alertness of law-enforcing agencies, a mass awareness campaign against it has also become the need of the hour. What we actually need is community involvement in resisting the menace.
But in any case, the cycle of impunity will have to be broken through appropriate legal action against culprits.
Since the perpetrators have been arrested in Tangail and Savar, legal processes against them should be initiated and completed as soon as possible.
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