Woman gang-raped before husband now in Khulna

Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rape in 2020. On Friday night, another woman was allegedly violated by four men in front of her helpless husband.

The alleged crime occurred around 10.30 pm near the Tetultala railway crossing in the Khanjahan Ali locality of Khulna city, when the couple was passing through the area.

A similar incident was reported in Bagerhat earlier this month.

The four forcibly dragged the couple to a garage, where they tied up the man with a rope and took turns to rape the 27-year-old woman. Her ordeal continued for nearly an hour -- all this while, her helpless husband watched in horror, according to police.

Based on the woman's complaint, an FIR for gang-rape was lodged against the four men -- identified as Quamrul, Jibon, Summon and Ala -- at Khanjahan Ali police station on Saturday morning. 

"The woman is recuperating at the one-stop crisis centre of Khulna Medical College and Hospital," said Prabir Kumar Biswas, officer-in-charge. "Efforts are on to nab the perpetrators of the heinous crime."

Bangladesh's rape epidemic

There has been no let up in the number of sexual crimes against women despite the introduction of stricter laws in Bangladesh in November 2020.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped in 2020 alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below.

Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported in 2020 and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data.

However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape.

In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali.

In November, 2020, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country.

But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.