Arrest all rapists, stalkers

Terming rape and sexual harassment crimes against humanity, women's rights activists at a press conference in Mymensingh yesterday said such crimes are on the rise, and demanded immediate arrest of perpetrators.

Mymensingh unit of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad organised the programme at the city's press club.

Reading out a written statement, Parishad Secretary Fahmida Yeasmin Runa presented 10 incidents of crime that took place in different parts of Mymensingh in the last eight months.

In one of the incidents, a 13-year-old girl with physical disability was raped by her neighbour in Gafargaon upazila on November 11 but the accused still remain on the loose.

On September 16, a second-grade schoolgirl was raped in Paranganj area of Sadar upazila. No one was arrested in the case till date.

On September 14, a 12-year-old schoolgirl was gang raped by five youths in Trishal upazila. So far, after filing of a case with Trishal Police Station the following day, only two of the accused were arrested.

On August 29, a young mother was raped by ten youths in Kolapara. Her husband filed a case the next day, but only one accused has so far been arrested.

On August 19, a schoolgirl was stabbed by her stalker in Baghmara area of the town as she rejected the attacker's consecutive proposals. After her father filed a case, police arrested all four accused including the prime one Sajjad Hossain.

On July 29, an 11-year-old speech-impaired girl was raped by her neighbour in Tarakanda upazila. The accused is now on bail.

Among others, Parishad president Monira Begum Anu, vice president Lila Roy and former president Ferdous Ara Mahmuda Helen were present at the press conference.

Contacted, SA Newazi, additional superintendent of police (crime) in Mymensingh, said, “Police have already arrested many of the accused in the above-mentioned cases. Drives are on so all the accused can be arrested soon.”