Suicide of a twelve-year-old
We are deeply saddened to know that a 12-year-old girl in Khulna took her own life on Friday "fearing abduction and further humiliation" after being harassed by a youth for almost a year. Chadni, the seventh grader, was driven over the edge when the youth in question, his father, and a local influential woman went to Chadni's house where she and her father were assaulted when they protested the matter.
It is beyond disturbing that a child was essentially provoked to commit suicide not only by the youth who constantly stalked and harassed her, but also by his own father who, far from paying heed to Chadni's father's plea to ask his son to stop harassing Chadni, went to the girl's house to ask whether she "liked" his son.
Sadly, this is a reality of far too many girls in Bangladesh today. For countless girls and women, stepping outside of the home simply in pursuit of education or work has become something to be dreaded. In a society where sexual harassment is almost culturally accepted and rarely punished, it is no wonder that girls like Chadni—seeing no way out of their misery—ultimately resort to suicide.
The local woman is in police custody but the others are on the run. The police should leave no stone unturned in locating and arresting the youth, his father, and all those involved. All these individuals should be given the highest form of punishment because of their role in inciting a child to take her own life.
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