The recent statistic of 24 reported rapes in just nine days at the end of last month is nothing if not a stark reminder of our collective failure to address the scourge of violence against women and children.
Sharmeen S Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, quite rightly stated that this a “pandemic-level crisis.”
We must heed her warning. This is an issue that continues to get out of hand, and we must act with the urgency this emergency has always demanded.
For decades, governments have come and gone, yet have failed to uphold the safety of women and children. The roots of this crisis -- entwined with politics, drugs, technology, and a deteriorating social fabric -- have always been complex. Yet, we have no alternative but to address these root causes if we are to start making progress.
This has never been just a law enforcement issue, as laws have long existed in this country to protect women and children. Instead, it is this prevalent societal sickness that continues, one that demands intervention on multiple fronts if we are to address it.
The government’s recent steps, such as deploying quick response teams at the upazila level and pledging to monitor schools and madrasas, are welcome but not enough. Only permanent, well-resourced initiatives, not just pilot projects, can potentially bring about meaningful change.
A problem as serious as this demands complete attention. Every day we fail to make progress is another day when lives continue to be destroyed. We must rise to end this pandemic of violence with immediate effect.
