More than 1 woman raped every day on average in Dhaka

On average, more than one woman is raped every day in Dhaka and over 90% of the accused in these cases have been arrested in less than a week, according to police.

Reviewing the rape cases filed in the first eight months of this year, according to data from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), it was found that more than one woman is raped in different parts of the city at night.

Police, however, were able to arrest most of the accused involved in these incidents.

According to DMP, a total of 314 women filed rape cases in 50 police stations under its jurisdictions between January and August.

Of them, 42 were raped in January, 45 in February, 46 in March, 12 in April, 15 in May, 49 in June, 52 in July, and 53 in August, according to data.

However, in 2019, 353 women were raped in Dhaka city during the same time period.

Although that number is lower than that of last year, human rights activists have still expressed concern.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media and Public Relations) Walid Hossain told Bangla Tribune: "Police tend to arrest the culprits immediately after the incident. But police security alone will not solve this problem.

“We have to build a social movement to prevent rapes. The solution must be found by ensuring exemplary punishment.”

The picture of rape cases in the capital as well as across the country amid the Covid-19 pandemic is even grimmer.

According to data from the Police Headquarters, 5,400 women filed rape cases across the country in 2019, while 3,900 cases were lodged in 2018.

According to police’s estimates, 26 women died as a result of rape last year.  The number was 21 in 2018.

Human rights activist Nur Khan Liton told Bangla Tribune: "Even though Dhaka is the country’s capital city, there is a lack of security for women. The number of working women in the capital is high; most of them live in the city and have to go out at night.

“It has not yet been possible to create a safe city for them. Police are always busy. The issue of women's safety is still neglected.”

He added: "We need to create a strong security system in the capital so that no more rapes take place due to gaps in security.”