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An endless wait for justice
How the society, legal system fail rape victims and survivors
NILIMA JAHAN
Nine years have passed since Sohagi Jahan Tonu was raped and murdered inside the restricted Cumilla Cantonment on March 20, 2016.
The case filed for her murder was supposed to be resolved within 180 days. However, nine years on and there has been no significant progress.
Intellectually challenged Samia’s (not her real name) fight for justice has dragged on for eight years, since she was raped by a neighbour in November 2016 in Bogura.
Meanwhile, the perpetrator served just three months before being granted bail.
In Noakhali’s 2020 gang rape case, the convicted rapists are also out on bail, while the survivor Nasima (not her real name) lives in constant fear, with police protection withdrawn and public humiliation continuous.
A follow-up into the three cases shows prolonged delays, insensitive court practices and the absence of state compensation, leaving the victims and their families in a relentless struggle for justice.
The perpetrators, meanwhile, exploited systemic loopholes, securing bail or using influence, to evade accountability. They intimidated victims and their families or walked free without facing any real consequences.
A 2021 study by Manusher Jonno Foundation analysed 25 rape cases in Bangladesh from 2012 to 2016 and found that, despite rape being a non-bailable offense, the accused were granted bail within 15 days of their arrest in all cases.
In the Tonu murder case, though two autopsies failed to determine the cause of death, DNA tests confirmed Tonu was raped before being murdered -- sperm from three unidentified individuals were found on her clothes. However, none of the sperm samples matched that of any suspect.
The case, initially handled by local police, has bounced from the Detective Branch to the Criminal Investigation Department, and then to the Police Bureau of Investigation since 2020, with six different investigation officers. The latest IO PBI’s Tariqul Islam.
“I’ve just taken over the case. The investigation is still ongoing,” he said.
“There are still some requirements that need to be addressed, but once we progress, we’ll make sure to update the media and the public.”
Tonu’s father Md Yaar Hossain, however, said, “This investigating officer doesn’t even keep me updated. What kind of investigation is he conducting? When I call him, he acts annoyed. They should hand the case to someone else if they can’t handle it.
“I desperately want to meet Dr Yunus…. I want to ask him why my case has been left to languish for so long.”
Advocate Salma Ali, who visited the family, said, “They faced immense pressure and couldn’t speak freely, even during our visit, as they were constantly monitored.
“High-profile cases may draw attention, but they rarely advance when powerful individuals are involved.
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