–Golam Mostafa Jibon–

Sudden rising of rape incidents has grown grave concern among the civil society members in the country.

But, question has intensified that, what the reasons behind sudden rising of such crimes?

Experts seem that, widespread use of smart phones, easy access of internet technology and availability of porn videos have now caused of sudden rising of crimes particularly rape incidents.

“Easy availability of pornography through smart phones is one of the major reasons behind getting the children and adolescents involved in such crimes like rape incidents,” said prominent Psychiatrist Dr. Md. Rahenul Islam.

He further said, “Teenagers are getting addicted to porn videos available on different sites. After watching such naked videos, youths and even teenagers are taking the path of such criminal activities and attempting to do so with minor or adult girls. As a result, rape and abduction incidents are on the rise across the country despite several initiatives of the concerned law enforcement agencies.”

“Many youths and teenagers are also being addicted to different games including PUBG, guns of boom, online PvP action, ball pool and ludo king etc. If guardians are not alerted and awareness is not created, such degenerate culture will not be removed anyway from the society by only applying of laws,” he added.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) says that, there are over 132 million internet users in the country. Surprisingly, this number was only 7.5 million in 2008. Due to huge expand of internet technologies; smart phones have become available to the people from teenager to elderly man and from beggar to multimillionaire.

According to BTRC, the number of Facebook users in Bangladesh is increasing day by day. Over 67.2 million people in the country currently use FB. The majority of whom are young and underage people. Bangladesh is moving in step with the world in every field by utilizing technology. But just as every carrier has positive aspect; it has also a negative aspect. And this negative aspect of technology is currently becoming evident among the young society. They are completely giving their valuable time to the dark side of technology.

Experts are reporting this as a warning sign. Young people are spending excessive time on social media, including Facebook, YouTube, and various apps, including TikTok-Likee and Instagram. In addition, use of pornography sites is increasing day by day. Young people are getting involved in various betting sites and there are various temptations behind this. Above all, they are plunging into darkness rather than looking at the light of technology.

PORNOGRAPHY ADDICTION BEHIND RISING OF RAPE, SEXUAL HARASSMENT:

Nowadays, most of the young people use smartphones, laptops or desktops in computers. Almost everyone carry a mobile phone. Bulk portion of the phones contain smart or android version. The ease of access to technology has created instability and insecurity in the society. Society has fallen into moral decline. Trust is being lost due to easy access in the virtual world. Nowadays, free communication systems have been created through social media such as Facebook, Imo, WhatsApp and Viber. A recent study has shown that over 65 percent of the youth (age between 12 and 18 years) in developed countries are addicted to the Internet, YouTube and pornography, and are involved in major crimes including sexual harassment and rape, which is posing a serious threat to the society. It is reported that, about 3 lakh of school girls in America get pregnant every year due to porn addiction, which is a greater threat to the entire society and even any of the states. In our country too, the incidence of child rape has recently increased alarmingly, which has become a real threat to the path of development.

Ferdous Sultana Kakoly, Advocate of Dhaka Judge Court said that, “Family values ​​have been declining in Bangladesh for a long time due to political and social unrest. Due to which, various criminal tendencies are increasing among teenagers. However, the main reason behind the rising of sexual crimes among teenagers is the misuse of internet technology. Children and teenagers are getting addicted to various sexual games and videos through devices instead of physical exercise in the field. As a result, such criminal tendencies are increasing day by day.”

It is to be mentioned that, the recent rape and death incident of Magura have drawn nationwide attention. An eight-year-old girl was the victim of sexual harassment and has met the tragic death after fighting for life in the hospital bed. Not only in Magura, sexual harassment and rape incidents have now become regular phenomenon across the country due to Social degradation. Three separate child rape incidents have been reported in Raiganj, Shahzadpur and Sirajganj Sadar upazila in less than a week. Of the incidents, two teenagers have already been arrested by the law enforcers.

Allegation of raping a six-year-old girl by a 45-year-old man has been intensified in Kahalu of Bogura district. The accused engaged in the occurrence on March 12 alluring the girl for a delicious food at his home.

A 17-year-old girl was also victim of sexual harassment in Dhunot upazila of the same district on March 3.

Another differently able girl was raped by her uncle in Changuir village of Shahzahanpur upazila of the Bogura district on March 11.

Like the mentioned incidents, many more rape and sexual abuse incidents are now being reported daily at different parts of the country.

(The writer is Editor of The Daily Sky)