Woman attacked by stalker
Yet another woman has been brutally attacked by a stalker, this time in Patiya upazila in Chittagong. The victim is Misfa Sultana, a school teacher, who apparently provoked the ire of the attacker, Ahasan Ullah Tutul, because she rejected his romantic proposal. Earlier this week, Ahasan stormed into the classroom where Misfa was teaching and beat her so badly that both her hands and left leg were broken.
Where do we even begin? This is the tragic reality that girls and women in this country who dare have a say in their lives have to endure. Countless such women are subjected to harassment and physical violence at the hands of men like Ahasan who do not understand the concept of consent. On a daily basis, women have to pay the price of such sexist, chauvinistic attitudes – sometimes with their lives.
Khadija, Risha, Misfa – the list goes on.
The progress of a nation goes well beyond its economic achievements. We must ask, how far have we really come if we cannot even ensure a semblance of security for half the population?
Lack of access to justice and implementation of laws is a further blow to women who are victims of violence since the guilty are almost never brought to justice. Until and unless the government makes an example of men like Ahasan by serving them the severest of punishments, and sends a strong message that crimes against women will not be tolerated, lofty ambitions of reaching middle income status will remain hollow.
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