Woman 'kidnapped, gang-raped' in Gaibandha

A woman was allegedly kidnapped and raped by four to five men in Sundarganj upazila of Gaibandha district. The alleged crime occurred early Monday, reports news agency UNB.

Police have identified the accused as Mastan Shaheb Mia, Khushu Mia, Laltu Mia, Khorshed and Anarul.

Police said the accused took the victim to a desolate place and raped her. At one point, the victim lost her consciousness and the accused fled from there.

Later, local residents spotted the woman and rushed her to Gaibandha District Hospital. "Efforts are on to nab them," a police officer said.

Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year. Earlier in last month, a police headquarters report said that a total of 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six-year-old or below.

Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data.

However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who also report that most cases the victims are too afraid to file a rape case.

In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali.

In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country.

But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.