Govt to frame tougher law to stop sexual harassment: PM

Desk Report: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said the government will ensure the maximum punishment to the culprits by enacting tougher law, if necessary, to prevent the sexual harassment.

“There’ll be no mercy for those who will be involved in such sexual harassments… if necessary, we must frame a tougher law, and ensure the maximum punishment to those who will commit such crimes,” she said pointing at brutal killing of Feni’s Sonagazi Madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.

Participating in a discussion on the resolution placed in parliament, the Leader of the House called upon the parliaments, governments and citizens of all countries of the world to build up resistance against terrorism and sexual harassments.

Mentioning that the militancy and terrorism are not a problem of Bangladesh alone, but also the whole world, Sheikh Hasina said her government will do whatever necessary to combat the menaces.

The prime minister renewed her call to the people of the country to inform the intelligence agencies instantly after knowing any suspicious activity to fight militancy and terrorism in the country.

“I would like to urge the people of country to inform our intelligences promptly if you notice any abnormal activity so that we can face it and save the public life and property,” she said.

Terming Nusrat a brave girl, the prime minister said she did not bow to injustice and did not agree to withdraw the case filed against the principal of her madrasah.

“After the incident, efforts were made to label Nusrat as characterless. But she protested this till her death and she was burnt to death for showing this bravery,” Sheikh Hasina said.

The prime minister said she instantly directed the police to bring the perpetrators to book. “I don’t want to see who belong to which party … the criminals are criminals. Such incident can never be accepted,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina firmly said those who are engaged in such incident, the government must take action against them irrespective of their political affiliation and views.

Treasury Bench lawmaker Tofail Ahmed placed the proposal in the House, which was passed by voice vote after around four-hour marathon discussion over the resolution.

In the resolution, Jatiya Sangsad expressed its deep shock and anger at the loss of lives of a huge number of people in the terror attacks in New Zealand’s Christchurch mosques, Sri Lankan churches and Hotels as well as sexual harassment towards Feni Madrasa student Nusrat and burning her to death.

The House expressed profound shock and sorrow at the tragic death of Zayan Chowdhury, a grandson of Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Health Ministry Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim who was killed in the terror attacks in Colombo on Easter Sunday.

Later, Parliament unanimously adopted the resolution urging the parliaments, governments and citizens of all countries of the world to forge resistance against terror incidents and sexual harassments.

Awami League lawmakers Amir Hossain Amu, Begum Matia Chowdhury, Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim, Mohammad Nasim, Mahbubul Alam Hanif, Shajahan Khan, Meher Afroze and Aroma Dutta, Opposition Chief Whip Mashiur Rahman Ranga, Jatiya Party MPs Fakhrul Imam, Kazi Firoz Rashid and Dr Rustum Ali Faraji, Workers’ Party President Rashed Khan Menon and Jasod MPs Moin Uddin Khan Badal and Shirin Akter, among others, participated in the discussion over the resolution.

Regarding the demand of lawmakers about framing of tougher law to prevent sexual harassment, the premier said the government has made arrangements of trial through mobile courts._BSS.


risingbd/Dhaka/Apr 30, 2019/Nasim