5 October 2020, Mon, 10:27

Secretary General condemns Noakhali gangrape incident; demands stern punishment of the offenders

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Secretary General and former lawmaker Professor Mia Golam Porwar has issued the following statement on 5 October 2020 protesting and condemning Noakhali gang rape incident.

There was widespread outrage on social media as the graphic video of a woman in Noakhali being gang-raped was uploaded and shared yesterday. While it is unclear who uploaded the video, or initiated the sharing of it, it is evident that the rapists had filmed the rape, with the intent of spreading it on Facebook. The victim families even could not dare to file case against the criminal as they are influential in the society. Moreover, the victim families are becoming compelled to escape because of their further offences. Such a kind of barbaric incidents are taking place due to absence of rule of law and the existing culture of impunity.

According to the statistics of Aain O Salish Kendra (ASK) some 975 women and children have been raped in last 9 months nationwide. Off the total rape victims, 43 have been murdered and 12 of them have committed suicide. In last 5-year tenure of the present government (2014-2019), 2980 women and children have become the victims of raps and 945 became gangraped. 349 women have been murdered due to rape incidents.

The aforesaid statistics substantiates that how much severe condition is going on across the country. Women and children are not safe in home, school, colleges or anywhere else. The media are highlighting a faction of the total incidents. Practically the situation is worse than it appears.

The ruling party men, particularly the cadres of its student wing Chhatra League are genuinely involved with the incidents of rape and murder. Most of these rape incidents are being taken place under the direct backing of the Godfathers. Immediate after the brutal incident of Sylhet MC College, this Noakhali gangrape incident proves the vulnerability of our women and children.

I am urging the concerned authorities to arrest all the offenders and godfathers who were involved with Noakhali Begumganj’s gangrape incident and nationwide other rape incidents and to take stern legal measures against them.