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Where rapists do not fear to tread

This article published last week narrated the typical features of our patriarchal society where men are encouraged to treat women as objects. The situation is so suffocating that even after becoming a victim of sexual assault, society blames the woman for being assaulted, pointing fingers at her attire and character. Due to this blatant patriarchy, which protects the male members of the society at any cost, women victims have to face derogatory comments even from their own relatives and family members. This obnoxious social norm has also influenced national laws, which have failed to ensure justice for women who become victims of sexual assault. One of the worst examples of this failure is Tonu's murder. More than a year has passed but still none of the perpetrators have been arrested by law enforcement agencies. The current trend of increasing sexual violence clearly indicates that perpetrators are highly encouraged by the fact that they will get off scot-free after committing these crimes. I believe if exemplary punishment could be ensured for perpetrators, incidents of sexual assault would significantly decline.     

Rafid Alam
Mohammadpur, Dhaka

Leak of competitive exam question papers – where are we moving as a society?

Recent leaks of different competitive job recruitment tests, in addition to that of various public examinations (JSC, SSC, or HSC for instance), are of deep concern. Aside from this, there is a huge gap between vacancies and numbers of job applicants which already puts a lot of pressure on students. Leak of question papers further befuddle the young generation. Higher education in the country suffers from session gaps, and students are moreover pressured by aged parents seeking release from the stress of their jobs. It is high time to protest! The role of the media can be more effective in addressing the problem of question paper leaks. 

Shibbir Ahammed
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Mymensingh

Who defines masculinity? 

Society plays a leading role in defining masculinity. It imposes strict social behaviours by which a person can be defined as masculine or feminine. It is not a dynamic illustration of the Bangladeshi context but a universal burning issue in today's world. The article "A Fiction of Myself", published last week, asks 'Does society reserve the right to define gender?' Moreover, a family has become the institution of gender teaching where children are first taught the characteristics of masculinity or femininity that they should possess. Children who do not adopt these behaviours of gender identity are being subjugated not only in their own family but also in society. But in a true sense, physical construction and mannish behavior does not define masculinity. We should be more conscious before defining a gender. 

Jashita Areng
Notre Dame University, Mymensingh