In mid-August, hundreds of women gathered at Dhaka University's Raju Memorial Sculpture, uniting in solidarity with protests in Kolkata over the brutal gang rape and murder of Dr Moumita Debnath. Amidst the candles and chants, they demanded fair investigation and justice for all rape cases, including that of Tonu.
Yet, this powerful public outrage sparked only temporary attention, and now violence against women has once again slipped from the forefront of our concerns. This fleeting outrage reveals a deep-rooted hypocrisy in how we address sexual violence.
Sexual violence against women has become a chronic epidemic in Bangladesh. According to "Rape Statistics by Country 2020" of the World Population Review, Bangladesh reports 11,682 incidents per 100,000 people, with a rape rate of 9.82. Local human rights organization Ain-o-Salish Kendra (ASK) reported 114 women were raped, and 137 women were victims of domestic violence -- with 65 killed and 49 driven to suicide in just the first three months of 2024.
These numbers are thought to be just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape and do not believe they will get justice if they do.
Why does rape continue to be so prevalent in our society? The answer lies in our collective complicity. While everyone publicly condemns rape, many add their own conditions to it. By adding “ifs” and “buts” to the condemnation of rape, we perpetuate a culture that normalizes this violence.
For instance, the common question, “What was she doing out so late at night?” shifts blame from the rapist to the victim. According to ASK, in more than 90% of rape cases, the accused was someone known to the victim -- neighbors, friends, co-workers, even family members. So, in most cases when someone close to the victim assaults them, then how does it matter whether a girl goes out at night or not?
Another excuse is the victim’s character. When actress Pori Moni filed a sexual harassment case, she was labeled as a “prostitute” for having a lifestyle that included partying and drinking with men at night. A 2021 social media survey revealed that 80% of the public thought she deserved the assault due to her involvement in a narcotics case. Similarly, Mosarrat Jahan Munia was vilified after her death due to her relationship with a wealthy married man Anvir, with many focusing on her character rather than the violence she endured.
Actor and businessman Ananta Jalil once blamed how women dress for inviting unwanted sexual advances from men. The argument that “inappropriate clothes” provoke rape is flawed. What was so provocative about the clothes of the four-year-old girl raped in Gazipur? Rapes occur regardless of attire -- whether the victim is a child, elderly, or wearing traditional dress.
A 2022 study conducted by the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) revealed that 68% of participants believed women who defy social norms and behave like a man deserve derogatory comments.
A popular perception that rape is driven by sexual urge contributes to this way of thinking. But studies like Dr Paul Gebhard’s “Why Men Rape” debunk this, showing that many rapists are married or have consenting partners. Susanne Miller, in her book Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape, asserts that rape is a deliberate act of intimidation, driven by power, anger, or sadism. Childhood abuse, parental violence, cruelty to animals, early exposure to porn, and violent media contribute to these motives.
But why do some express their desire to dominate through rape? The answer lies in our pervasive rape culture, shaped by mass media, societal attitudes, and traditions that trivialize sexual violence. Famous comedians like George Carlin, Louis CK, and Norm Macdonald have made rape the punchline, while in Bengali songs and movies there’s no end of vile language that insults mothers and sisters.
This desensitization extends to everyday conversations, where people casually use offensive remarks, sometimes in anger, sometimes as jokes, contributing to a culture that downplays the gravity of rape.
Toxic masculinity is glamorized in mainstream media and women are reduced to mere objects. "Don't wear this, don’t go out, and don’t laugh out loud" -- these restrictions have been the norm for girls growing up. As long as society views women as inferior rather than free human beings, the problem will remain unsolved.
To effectively combat this issue, we must prioritize comprehensive education. Although sex education is included in textbooks, it's often sidestepped due to societal stigma. We need to implement thorough programs that address consent, respect, and teach children about good and bad touch from an early age.
Additionally, we must reform our legal system to close existing gaps, ensure swift justice, and combat corruption. Law enforcement and the judiciary need to operate independently from political influence to maintain public trust.
Societal attitudes must also shift. We need to speak out against degrading portrayals of women in films, songs, and jokes, and reject casual sexism in our daily interactions. It's time for collective action. Let’s commit to being the change we wish to see in a reformed Bangladesh.
Hurmetun Nesa Labiba is a Research Intern at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM).
