Bogura-7 MP in parliament blames feminists for rape; says ‘tamarind theory’ could be applied
Independent MP of Bogura-7 Md Rezaul Karim Bablu today said in parliament that feminists are to blame for the increase in rape incidents around the country, even resorting to comparing women to tamarinds in line with a religious cleric's words in 2013.
The Bogura-7 lawmaker was speaking on the Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which was passed today in parliament, ensuring death penalty as the highest punishment for crimes like rape.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. "In the name of women's liberation, feminists are encouraging women to become freer. This has increased the acceptability of rape so much among rapists that they are encouraged to commit the act," the lawmaker said.
Bablu also suggested that the theory of late Amir of Hefajat-e Islam, who in 2013 compared women with tamarinds, applied.
"Honourable Speaker, if the tamarind theory of Allama Shafi is used, the rapists would be discouraged from rape… and religious sentiments would grow within them."
State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Ministry Fazilatun Nessa Indira moved the bill, which was passed by voice vote.
The bill was amended to incorporate death penalty as the maximum punishment in rape cases.
Bablu was elected MP from Bogura-7 [Gabtali-Shahjahapur] with the support of BNP in the last parliamentary election in 2018.
He, however, said the bill was important.
"We have enacted so many laws but our laws are rendered ineffective only due to lack of proper implementation, formulation and implementation," he said.
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