Rapists should be boycotted by family, expelled from edu institutions: State minister

State minister for women and children affairs Fazilatun Nessa Indira on Tuesday said criminals involved in the gang-rape in Sylhet and Begumganj incidents will be tried by speedy trial tribunals and punished, reports UNB.

“Rapists and torturers of women and children have no social or political identities. They should be boycotted by the family, socially and expelled from educational institutions,” she said at a virtual seminar on the occasion of the National Girl Child Day in the city.

The accused involved in Sylhet and Nokhali rape incidents have been arrested and cases were filed against them, said Indira. “Rapists and torturers of women and children must be punished.”

Indira said a committee has been formed to prevent sexual harassment at educational institutions while stipends are being provided to female students to increase their presence and a 24-hour help line has been opened to provide them assistance.

“Today’s girls will ensure the 50-50 employment status of women in 2041 and pledge of prime minister Sheikh Hasina will be seen as a charter for the liberation of women around the world to achieve equality, empowerment and progress,” she said.

In Noakhali, miscreants stripped and molested a housewife and recorded the incident on phone. Protests erupted after the clip went viral on the social media.

The victim filed two cases 33 days after the incident accusing nine people on Sunday.

One case was filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act and another under the Pornography Control Act.

In Sylhet, a 20-year-old girl was raped at MC College dormitory on the night of 25 September. The victim’s husband filed a case with Shah Paran police station on the next day against nine people mentioning the names of six, known as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Eight of the accused are currently in police custody.