Cumilla rape case exposes deeper failures
We are shocked and outraged by the heinous treatment of a woman in Muradnagar, Cumilla. The woman—in her twenties and a mother of two—was not only subjected to rape but was further victimised when she was beaten, had her clothes torn off, and filmed by some local men. These individuals, at least four of whom have been subsequently identified and apprehended, uploaded the video online, sparking widespread outrage on social media. To some extent, it is this outrage that may have accelerated the authorities' response in apprehending the rapist, who reportedly had a history of stalking the victim. If visibility or outcry is the deciding factor here, one cannot help but wonder how many incidents of rape and torture go unnoticed and unresolved across the country, with victims ultimately receiving no justice as public attention shifts elsewhere.
In this particular case, alongside the public outcry, we have also witnessed a most distasteful barrage of mudslinging and slander against the victim—another, sadly familiar, response. Such vilification often silences victims while the perpetrators, who really should be the ones feeling the heat, walk away scot-free. We have also seen various political factions attempt to weaponise the suffering of the woman, who belongs to a minority community, for their own petty gains. Their lack of empathy or even concern for the victim of an egregious crime, trying instead to rationalise it, is shocking. Trying to examine the details of a crime is one thing, but having no regard for a victim and her right to justice, or worse, trying to justify the crime itself, is another. This was evident in the revealing of the Muradnagar woman's identity and the treatment she was subjected to afterwards. It sheds a troubling light on certain sections of our society, especially their attitude towards women.
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We welcome the statements issued by the government, condemning the crimes committed against her and promising swift justice. The High Court's directives for the government to ensure her safety, to remove all videos, audios, and photos related to the incident from digital platforms, and for the relevant authorities to submit a compliance report within 15 days must be enforced strictly. Moreover, the court rightly issued a rule asking relevant departments why their failure to prevent the disclosure of the victim's identity, videos, and audios on social media should not be declared illegal.
However, what we must also ask is, why does there have to be an outcry every time before such necessary actions are taken? Why can't victims receive the justice they deserve without being dragged through the mud, their privacy destroyed, and their character questioned in the court of public opinion? Is this how a proper, humane justice system should function? We demand that the Muradnagar victim be provided with the justice, protection, and respect that society and the justice system owed her all along, but have so far failed to deliver.
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