Dhaka: The incident of gang-rape of a housewife by keeping her husband detained in an abandoned dormitory of MC College in Sylhet has created a stir in the country. Sylhet has become turbulent. Countrymen are protesting this heinous crime. Media is vocal in analyzing the unfortunate incident. Thousands of comments are being published through social media.
Barta24.com spoke on the issue of this sensitive crime with three academics who specialize in society, politics and philosophy. In the context of the underlying analysis of the Sylhet gang-rape, the experts were asked, "Why did the Sylhet gang-rape happen?" Yes.
‘Ideals, philosophy, values, consciousness and commitment have nothing to do with criminals’
Dr. Mahibul Aziz
Dean
Faculty of Arts and Humanities
University of Chittagong
The incident of gang rape of a housewife in Sylhet is highly reprehensible but not isolated. Because, in different parts of the country, miscreants are committing such misdeeds from time to time. It is noteworthy that most of the perpetrators are juveniles and young. Because, 25-40 year old people form majority in the total population of Bangladesh now. These young people, not only interested in studying nor acquiring skills, but are more prone to consumerism-perverted mentality than to global events and consumerism-based cultures. Whether they have the ability or not, they have a strong ambition. As a result, they take the umbrella of politics or commit crimes for their own benefit. These criminals have nothing to do with politics, ideology, philosophy, values, consciousness and commitment. These are the ones who change parties from time to time due to their own vested interests and personal gain.
On the other hand, dishonest and insidious politicians of different parties are becoming powerful even though they are insignificant in number. They exploit these young people for their own personal or group interests. These are their patrons who lead the youth astray. Young people also get involved in drugs, rape or making money after getting a taste of power. As a result, a criminal cycle was established behind power and politics. They do not hesitate to commit atrocities.
As young people are responsible for this, so is their family and society. Children are no longer given time or control by the family. In the name of coaching or school-college, where they go, what they do, parents do not keep the news. Society is also not aware of its members. Control in educational institutions has decreased. In this situation, the youths get involved in criminal activities in the guise of politics to fulfill their ambitions. Over time, he or she turns into a horrible criminal, which manifests itself in gang rape in Sylhet or similar crimes.
"Abuse of political power and indifference of the authorities are also particularly responsible for the gang-rape."
Dr. Mahfuz Parvez
Professor,
Department of Political Science
University of Chittagong
Criminologists have linked brutality and sexuality to the crime of rape, which involves a variety of powers, including financial, social, physical, and political power. In particular, the abuse of political power and the indifference of the authorities are also particularly responsible for gang-rape. There are many reasons behind the crime of gang rape of a housewife in Sylhet.
Sylhet is a traditional town and MC College is a renowned old institution. How is it possible to occupy an abandoned or unused residential hall there and turn a particular room into a crime center? The place did not fall from the sky. There were college authorities, there were people from the surrounding community, and the place, like the whole city, was not to be overlooked by law enforcement. Everyone has to say that they were indifferent to the crime cycle there. If society, institutions and law enforcement agencies had been vigilant and resisted in advance, such a cycle of crime could not have taken place and such a brutal gang rape could not have taken place.
As a result, in addition to catching and punishing the perpetrators, it is also very important for the family, society and institutions to take steps to prevent the environment from becoming a crime. That applies not only to Sylhet, but to all parts of the country. The abuse of political power and the indifference of the authorities should be eliminated without participating in the tendency to create tension and sensitivity after the crime, which includes everyone from the state, society, institutions, family.
'Rape incitement is not wrong'
Dr. Helal Mohiuddin
Professor,
Center for Peace Studies and Political Science and Sociology
North South University
Some of the activists of the pro- government student organization are thugs, rapists and robbers instead of students. Why is that? Because of ‘muscle power’. Does ‘muscle’ just mean strength? No, not at all. This ‘muscle’ means the force of power. The team is in power, resulting in the belief that ‘whichever you want can be achieved’. Senior leaders, who use students for their self-interest, emphasize their shelters and help. Law enforcement agencies insist on remaining silent.
There are more reasons behind recklessness and ‘muscle power’. There is no benefit in lengthening the list. If you go to write about the rape cases of the student organizations of the parties in power at different times, a few books will be written. Fear of rape does not reveal the facts. The two splattered news are the ones that catch everyone's eye. Such as the present Sylhet or earlier Jahangirnagar (1993, 1995, 1998), Dhaka University (2000) or Mirpur Government Bangla College (2017), with which the then political power and party were involved.
In the gang rape incident of M.C. College, not one or two, but nine people were involved. How such organized crime is possible? According to the newspaper, it is alleged that the local leaders have tried their best to reach a compromise with the rape victims. But why? Was n't it their moral duty to hand over the rapists directly to the police? In other words, it is not wrong to say that they are indirect rapists or instigators of rape!