This is the Saddest Womens’ Day in Bangladesh in My Lifetime

Why can’t we protect each other where the state has failed? 3-year-olds deserve chocolates, not being in a deathbed because of rape by the chocolate vendor! In-laws are supposed to be kin, not ones who commit sexual violence against you.

We need a bulletproof process to get rid of this ever-concerning culture of rape and oppression against women and children. We have a large enough police force and other law enforcement agencies to keep crime at bay, but that is somehow failing, or giving up in the face of mobs. We, as a society, are not protecting ourselves or our neighbors either. This chaos is not an effing opportunity to commit more crime! It’s a turning point where we decide whether to choose extremism or progress.

What sort of progress are we anticipating with a mob freeing a criminal from custody? How do the police, the state, and our society let that happen? It’s not a step toward religious paradise, it’s extremism and taking hundreds of steps back to the time when ads against eve-teasing were running.

It may sound very shallow, but we must raise awareness in every way we can.

The state troops have proved to be more than capable of keeping people away from protests in July. Not that it worked out but surely a rapist’s drive to traumatize someone is not as strong as the people’s drive to get rid of an autocrat.

In any case, we are not seeing the law enforcement take any additional steps against rape, molestation, catcalling, harassment, or oppression, in general, against women and children. Evidently, this is large enough to be a national concern, but there are no special operations like the ones we have seen against drugs and war criminals. We do not even see increased patrol on the streets, we do not see higher police presence in local streets. Active police presence is not something to promote, but considering the overall absence of law and order, it somehow seems necessary. It could even be a way for the new uniforms to earn some points.

Technically, the army is still on active duty protecting the citizens from crimes, but they are usually a rare sight these days. Yes, the army should never ever be put against our own people, even when they are criminals, but since the people have accepted their temporary posts for a law and order emergency, we should not waste that resource. It sounds extreme to put army patrols in a free democratic nation, but the lack of safety has reached an extreme height, too.

When the state fails, we only have each other for protection. We do not need to turn into vigilantes and serve justice, but we can be present for our neighbors. Just six months or so ago, our youth and people, in general, have shown that it is somewhat possible to protect ourselves just by walking through the streets.

It does not stop crime per se, but it lets the neighbors know that if someone needs to stand up, others are ready to support them. Plus, it is certainly easier to report crime to the authorities when there are people looking out for it. No one needs to take the law into their own hands, they just need to either look out for one another or report crimes to the police. 180 million is enough population to fill every nook and cranny of the country.

To accomplish that, we need everyone to be aware. The best way to do that is to show people how intense the problem is. Everyone has to watch ads on YouTube and TV in between programs. Those promotions can raise social awareness against rape, oppression, and religious extremism. Even from the theo-centric community, we should be able to expect loud voices against using religion as a means to commit crime. Surely, the scholars and imams shouldn’t let the popular religion be used as a shield protecting oppression. It’s not something the majority of followers around the world promote or support.

Sexual violence and oppression are still heinous crimes no matter what religion one follows. Every faith asks you to be a conscious human before you practice it. Establishments like Mosques, temples, and churches are some of the most effective ways to reach people.

We can host public gatherings and awareness sessions on the streets and in front of important and busy places. We can even take the traditional approach of speaking through a mic in a moving rickshaw. The point is, that we can not leave any stone unturned if we want to protect ourselves.

This is how frightening this women’s day, or every other day, is for women, young girls, and children in the country.

We usually do not think about the society as a whole, but that is exactly how we are lagging behind. We are inherently idle and do not act when it is not our (individual) problem. But is that classic sigh of relief thinking “Glad it was not me” working out for you these days? Do you feel safe when you are out? Is the state offering you the protection you pay for through your taxes? If the state can not protect us, can we? Are we loud enough?

The way I see it, we need all of these to address this madness of rapes and crime in general. We need law enforcement, we need ourselves, and, most of all, we need to be more socially aware and responsible than ever.