THE minister for home affairs said in the parliament on April 28 that 464 cases of murder and 666 cases of rape had been filed across the country since February 17, when the Bangladesh Nationalist Party assumed office. It might well be the case that many of the cases filed after February 17 may have been in connection with murders and rapes that happened earlier. The cases may not have been filed immediately, or soon, after the commission of the crimes because of untoward situations. Even then, the figures that the minister has come up with in the parliament appear worrying by any standards. There are, therefore, all the reasons to view the situation of heinous crimes such as murder and rape — which involve the ultimate violation of rights, personal autonomy and bodily integrity, often causing irreversible damage to victims, families and society — as law enforcement failures. The minister has also said that the law enforcers have arrested 604 suspects in connection with the murder cases and 530 suspects in rape cases. The minister has further said that the authorities are collecting evidence and would submit the charge sheets as early as possible. The statement does not sound assuring as, pending progress, it all seems rhetorical.
The government should realise that murder and rape are no crimes of ordinary nature. Such crimes are not only attacks on the body but also on the soul, mind and persona of the victims. Rape strips individuals of free will and dignity. Murder takes away everything that individuals have and will ever have. The crimes create a cycle of violence and fear that spreads anarchy and prevents society from functioning peacefully. Heinous crimes call for exemplary punishment aimed at deterring the commission of such crimes. But the government first needs to make law enforcement functional for that to happen. Whilst law enforcement should be stringent and an expeditious trial of such crimes is a must to put in place the required deterrence, ending murder and rape warrants a comprehensive, multi-layered approach. The government should reduce poverty to lower crime rates, make early intervention to bring about positive parenting to break the cycle of violence that results in violent behaviour in adulthood and challenge harmful gender norms with healthy relationship. The government should take up evidence-based social programmes. The government should ensure safe public infrastructure to reduce the scope for violence in public spaces. The government needs to ensure expeditious trial and certain conviction, which are effective in deterring murder and rape.
The minister has spoken about the government’s firm commitment to keeping law and order and ensuring public safety. The expression remains rhetorical until the government translates it into action. The government needs to prove its mettle in law enforcement.
