Yeasir Yunus

RAPE IN BANGLADESH
2001-2016: WHO ARE
RAPED BY WHOM
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1. Introduction

Rape is defined as a type of sexual assault, usually involving sexual intercourse, which is
initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person’s consent
(Kelland, 2011). Though rape is a one kind of sexual violence, it can be discussed differently
for its extent. When we hear anything about rape, a picture of forcing a woman for physical
interaction by a man or a group comes to our mind. But there are many types of rape in the
world. And in Bangladesh, rape is a major problem in crime category. From the very beginning
of her birth, in 1971, many women were being raped by the Pakistani army. Today is 2016. But
still now, here, it is present with an alarming number. It is the harshest form of violence against
woman in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, it is thought as a matter of shame. The most interesting
fact is, it is the silent sexual crime against the women. The increasing rate of rape crimes is an
alarming phenomenon. It also describes the diminishing value of women in society.

2. Objective and methodology

In this paper, I want to show the rape scenario of Bangladesh from 2001 to 2016. One of my
major objectives is to give an idea of rapists and victims; how the victims feel about their life
and how others can be aware from rapists. Rural and urban – both area will be covered here.
Information from many articles of daily newspaper as well as many statistics will be presented
here to show the scenario. I want to put here some rape cases also. I will also highlight the
victims’ supporting part at the end.

Before discussing about the condition of Bangladesh, we need to know the common types of
rape and causes of rape. They will help us to know about the victims and the rapists.

3. Types of rape:

Though both male and female can be the victim of rape, the rate of male victims is quite low.
So, we are discussing only about the female. There are many types of rape. Some common
terms are:

3.1 Date Rape: When the victim & the rapist knows each other. Example - Rapes of co-workers,
schoolmates, friends. (Dziuba-Leatherman & Jennifer 1994)
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3.2 Gang Rape: Gang rape occurs when a group of people participate in the rape of a single
victim. (Neumann & Stephani p. 397-407)
3.3 Marital Rape: Rape between a married or a de facto couple (who are behaving like a couple
but not married) (Bergen 1996).
3.4 Minor Rape: When a child is raped by an adult. Example: Parent or Close Relatives, School
Teachers, Religious Authorities, or Therapists.
3.5 Prison Rape: Rapes which happen in prison, mainly homosexual, prison guards may also be
involved, primarily in female prisons.
3.6 Rape Within the Military: When men & women are sexually harassed in the military.
3.7 Statutory Rape: Adults engaging in consensual sexual relations with sexually mature minors
under the age of consent
3.8 War Rape: During war, rape is often used as means of psychological warfare in order to
humiliate the enemy and undermine their confidence.

4. Why do people rape?

Military conquest, socioeconomics, anger, power, sadism, sexual pleasure, psychopathy,

ethical standards, laws, attitudes toward the victims and evolutionary pressures- in a line, these
are the most common reasons why people rape. Studies in several countries have suggested
that rigid gender roles and promotion of an ideology of male toughness are related to violence
against women (Heise et al. 1994; Sanday 1981). Traditional gender roles prescribing female
submission and male dominance are linked to rape. Even, martial rape is also occurred
everywhere in the world, including Bangladesh. Commonly held myths such as these
contribute to date and marital rape:

✓ A man must have sex to prove his masculinity;

✓ When women say no to sex, they really mean yes, so men should ignore women's
refusals;
✓ If a woman engages in kissing or petting, she is obligated to engage in sexual
intercourse;
✓ What goes on between a husband and a wife is no one else's business; and
✓ The man should be head of the household.

These are dangerous myths that can lead to rape (Burt 1991). But, the main thing can be the
rapists’ intention. In this regard, the given pie chart can explain it very funnily.
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5. Women vs Rape in Bangladesh in 21st century

A man is said to commit ‘rape’ who except in the case, hereinafter excepted, has sexual
intercourse with a woman under circumstances falling under any of the five following
descriptions- firstly, against her will, secondly, without her consent, thirdly, with her
consent, has been obtained by putting her in fear of death or of hurt, fourthly, with her
consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband, and that her consent is given
because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be
lawfully married, fifthly, with or without her consent, when she is under sixteen years
of age (section 375 of Bangladesh Penal Code 1860). But in the 21st century, this
perspective has a wider view than that explanation.

Women in Bangladesh held multiple groups. Various cultural and ethnic groups are found here.
They also have rich, middle and poor classes. The most important thing is the rural setting and
urban setting. Men hold the power and control any property. Our society consider them as
men’s property. Their sexual activity, income and labour being systemically controlled by the
men. Patriarchy preserve social norms, education, employment and rights in Bangladesh. So,
the victims always make a fear of expressing the voice because of their socio-economic
condition. There is evidence that men not only rape women, but also physically torture and
murder the victims. Gang rape has become more problematic from a few years. From a study
about rape in rural Bangladesh in 2015 interesting data have been found. Total of 330 alleged
rape victims’ report forms of nine police stations were enrolled. This chart is showing the result
of this study.
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Figure:1

Again, statistics from other sources like, newspaper and many organizations from 2001 to 2016
are shown at the figure 2 (Odhikar 2016). This table has been modified with the help of statistics
from police headquarters data and from newspaper. I merged this table from the main source
with a view to explain only the women and children condition. We can see the number of victim
isn’t so low throughout the decade.

Years Total Total Total Gang Rape Sub- Killed after being Sub- Committed suicide Sub-total Total
(s) number number number total raped total after being raped of deaths
of of of of of committed after
victims women children Women Children gang Women Children killed Women Children suicide being
rape raped
2016 169 57 109 23 17 41 4 2 7 0 1 1 4
(Jan-
March)
2015 789 293 479 141 131 277 32 33 65 2 3 5 70
2014 666 244 393 118 92 227 31 34 66 7 5 12 78
2013 814 336 452 127 94 236 30 40 71 2 4 6 77
2012 805 299 473 101 84 197 31 39 75 0 10 10 85
2011 711 246 450 119 115 239 54 34 90 4 9 13 103
2010 559 248 311 119 95 214 61 30 91 2 5 7 98
2009 456 213 243 97 79 176 64 33 97 4 4 8 105
2008 454 202 252 110 70 180 68 30 98 5 4 9 107
2007 459 213 246 119 72 191 56 23 79 1 0 1 80
2006 639 412 227 0 0 0 126 13 139
2005 907 588 319 0 0 0 126 14 140
2004 896 569 327 0 0 0 117 13 130
2003 1336 842 494 0 0 0 142 17 159
2002 1350 748 602 0 0 0 114 12 126
2001 622 484 138 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total 11632 5994 5515 1074 849 1978 431 298 1364 27 45 141 1501
Figure.2
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Though it has many ups and downs in the number, the scenario is still same by comparison of
women in development. Children have been more vulnerable for this context. Rapists always
attack the children as they have little scope to raise their voice. Most importantly, the number
of gang rape is also frustrating. There is also a large number of being killed every year after
being raped. The consequences of suicidal tendency are higher than adult in this situation.
According children rights body Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF), there were reports
of 521 children raped in Bangladesh in 2015, which is around 350% higher than 2014: 199
reports of child rape. Reports in the first four months of 2016 show a 14% rise in child rape
compared to the same time period in 2015. Another report says that children with disabilities
are also vulnerable to sexual violence: 28 autistic children have been raped around the country
between January and August in 2016. In short, it is some frustrating statistics for all of us.

A woman’s chance of being raped in college is one in four. Researchers estimate that between
10% and 14% of all married women experience rape in marriage (D. Finkelhor & K Yllo 1985).
Since in Bangladesh, these topics are very much taboo, there is not so much research in these
topics. Marital rape is another problem here. In Bangladesh, husbands enjoy legal exemption
from rape against wives. According to the 2007 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey,
53 per cent of women had experienced physical and/or sexual abuse by their husbands. About
24% of men who have ever had a wife or girlfriend admit what’s classed in this study as “sexual
violence with girlfriends or wives past and present”, or “partner rape”, but this number falls to
18% if you take out the post-conflict areas (BBC Report 2013).

Women are also raped in their work places. Many garments workers and even higher educated
women have to face this problem regularly. Particularly, women who are working as house
maid are very much popular with this kind of action. A few days ago, Headmaster suspended
over ‘raping’ colleague in Kushtia (Daily Star Online, 2016). The victim suspected that the
headmaster entered her room on Friday morning with an excuse for exam tips and raped her.
Local people protested demanding exemplary punishment of the headmaster.

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad data said that around 87% of females face sexual harassment by
their family members at home. From January to September 2015, a total of 3,336 women and
minor girls were raped and victimised. Also, 158 of the 826 rapes involved gang rape incidents.
(Dhaka Tribune 2016).

A UN study in Bangladesh asked men if they had forced a woman to have sex in anytime in
their lives.10% said that YES, they had done it. 82% of rural and 79% of urban Bangladeshi
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men cited privilege as their reason for rape. 95.1% experienced no legal consequences. 89.2%
of urban Bangladeshi men answered ‘agree’ to the statement 'if a woman doesn't physically
fight back, it's not ‘rape’ (Mehedi 2015).

6. Two recent cases

❖ In March 20,2016, 19-year-old Shohagi Jahan Tonu's body had been found near a
culvert in Mainamoti cantonment area. There were signs of sexual assault before the
murder. People all over the country were calling for justice for Tonu. People all over
the country were showing their outrage, through social media, street protests. But at
last, there was no rapist found. Still now, it is blurred.
❖ A girl who was only 5 years old, was raped and her delicate private organs torn and
burnt with cigarette ash, drenching her whole body in blood, continuously- after locking
her up for 18 hours by rapist in Bangladesh in August 2016. Police arrested the
absconding miscreant rapist.

7. What to do now

Rape has mental and physical effects on victims. They feel self-blaming, depression, personal
powerlessness even suicidal tendency. They need physical checkup as well as mental
concealing. If I only discuss about the treatment of the victims after their incidents, it cannot
be a solution. We must talk about the prevention as well as treatment. Programmes must be
done in educational institutions and other public sectors to raise the awareness. Government
should take more programmes and activities to raise awareness against gender disparity by
organizing increased number of meetings, trainings, workshops, rallies, human chains and
exchange of views. Many organizations like, Ain O Shalish Kendro and Bangladesh Mohila
Parisad- are working to support the victims.

8. Conclusion

To ensure a secured society we need a holistic view. Only female cannot change it. Male
participation is also important in this regard. It is also necessary to establish good governance,
formulate and implement gender sensitive law to give women a secure society. We must
remember that the victims can be our dear ones. Strict actions and measures should be taken
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by the government to the rapists. In these regard, general mass, educated people, NGOs,
government should participate to stop this violence. And the most needed participation is from
the individual, it’s you!
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