Immediately arrest all rapists, stalkers

Women's rights activists yesterday expressed concern over the rising trend of rape and stalking in different parts of Mymensingh and demanded immediate arrest of perpetrators of the crimes.

The activists raised their concern during a press conference organised by Bangladesh Mohila Parishad's Mymensingh unit at the press club in the city. 

Such crimes against women have been rising at an alarming rate in the area as the majority of the criminals are not getting arrested, even months after committing crimes, said the rights activists.   

Protests were staged many times and memorandums were submitted to the police as well as the administration, but the situation did not improve, they said. 

Reading out a written statement, Parishad Secretary Fahmida Yeasmin Runa presented five incidents of crime before the audience.

In one of the incidents, an eighth-grade schoolgirl was raped in Mymensingh town on March 25, but the accused still remain on the loose.

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

On August 29, a young mother of one child was raped by ten youths in Kolapara village of Mymensingh Sadar. Her husband, a driver by profession, filed a case with Kotwali Police Station the following day, but only one of the  accused has so far been arrested.

On September 14, a 12-year-old schoolgirl, a sixth grader, 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.  

A couple of days later, on September 16, a second-grade schoolgirl was raped in Paranganj area in Mymensingh Sadar upazila. But no one was arrested in the case till date.

Among others, family members of the victims as well as Parishad President Monira Begum Anu and its vice presidents Saleha Hossain and Lila Roy were also present at the press conference.

Contacted, SA Newazi, additional police superintendent (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.”

“We already have opened a cell to assist the child and woman victims,” he added.