Look beyond the perps
Rape incidents like the one in Noakhali's Begumganj could take place due to political patronage of ruling groups and it is important to look at the source of power of these perpetrators, said a delegation of six women who visited the rape victim in Noakhali on October 9.
Led by Rahmuna Ahmed, a writer, researcher and anthropologist, the delegation issued the statement yesterday.
Other members of the delegation were Bithi Ghosh, a teacher and cultural activist; Jannatul Mawa, political activist and photographer; Mahfuza Haq, cultural and human rights activist; Shipra Bosh, development activist; and Taslima Akhter, organiser of workers and women's movement.
They visited Noakhali's Begumganj from Dhaka and exchanged views with a cross-section of society, including the Deputy Commissioner and Police Superintendent of Noakhali.
They also spoke to the rape victim.
The statement said the victim will not get justice if the ongoing movement is limited only to demanding arrest and punishment of the perpetrators. Questions must be raised and movement waged against the source of power of the perpetrators, who are patronised by the ruling force.
"It was not possible to ensure a safe life and safe movement for women keeping the source of power of Delwar gang hidden," the delegation said in the statement.
During their meeting with the Deputy Commissioner and SP of Noakhali and officer-in-charge of Begumganj Police Station, they called upon the authority figures to play the highest role in ensuring safety of the rape victim.
They also called upon all to wage a strong social movement against all incidents of rape and repression against women including the one in Noakhali.
While talking with the rape victim, they assured that she is not alone in the movement against rape. They also said her courage will strengthen the movement against rape and rape culture.
According to the case statement filed by the victim on October 4, the perpetrators including the main accused Badal, "Delwar Bahini" chief Delwar, Rahmat Ullah and Abdur Rahim, among others entered the house of the victim and beat up her husband on the night of the incident.
They took him to the adjacent room and tied him up.
Later, they tortured the victim and assaulted her while filming the incident on their phone.
At one point, locals gathered around the house hearing the victim's cry for help. The accused then threatened to kill her if she spoke about the incident, and left.
The victim, fearing for her life, fled her house and has been living elsewhere since then.
The perpetrators, however, contacted her over phone and threatened to release the recorded video of the incident on social media if she did not go back to her house and agree to their demands. As the victim did not agree to their immoral proposals, they released the video on social media on October 4.
As the video circulated widely, police located her and questioned her about the incident, following which she filed the case against her perpetrators, the statement reads.
The whole country was sparked with outrage after the recorded video of the incident was released on social media.
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