Government to Launch Emergency Hotline to Combat Sexual Harassment
The government will soon launch a dedicated police hotline to address sexual harassment and assault against women in public spaces, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul announced on Sunday (March 9). He made the statement during a press conference at the Ministry of Law. Home Affairs Adviser Lieutenant General (Retd.) Md. Jahangir Alam Chowdhury was also present at the event.
Speaking to journalists, the law adviser said, “To ensure swift action against the sexual harassment and assault that women face on the streets, the police and the Ministry of Home Affairs will introduce a dedicated hotline. This will be implemented within 24 hours. Victims will be able to report any incidents in public spaces through this hotline, and a specialized cell under the Ministry of Home Affairs will monitor and oversee the complaints. Additionally, a separate cell under the Ministry of Law will be dedicated to overseeing rape cases to prevent unnecessary delays.”
He also mentioned that the Supreme Court's Appellate Division has rejected the bail plea of Saiful Islam, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Dinajpur child rape case. Expressing his concerns, he added, “Sometimes, we are unable to meet expectations, which is deeply frustrating and painful.”
Addressing the growing concern over violence against women, Asif Nazrul firmly stated, “The increasing incidents of violence, abuse, and rape against women in Bangladesh will not be tolerated. The entire administration under this government is committed to ensuring justice in such cases and taking all necessary measures to eliminate sexual harassment.”
Regarding the meeting held at the Chief Adviser’s Office on the country's law and order situation, he noted, “We are all just as disturbed as you are. We have decided that we must take even stricter measures. Any form of mob justice will be dealt with firmly.”
When asked about the timeline for the trial of the recent Magura incident, where demands have been raised for a verdict within 24 hours, the law adviser responded, “We will proceed as swiftly as possible. Rushing a trial within 24 hours can sometimes lead to injustice. That is why we have set a target to reduce the usual trial duration by half. However, if everyone involved works together, we may be able to conclude the proceedings even sooner in specific cases, such as the Magura incident.”
