Staff Correspondent:

A public registry of sex offenders named Shocheton.org has been launched in Bangladesh to document incidents of sexual offences across the country.

The platform, the first of its kind in the country, aims to increase awareness of sexual crimes and provide public access to offender records.

The developers have launched the website amid a recent increase in incidents of rape and sexual attacks on women and children across the country.

Anyone can submit information about sexual offences or abuse through this website.

“Our goal is to increase awareness of sexual crimes in society and make it easier to check records about offenders,” say the developers in the website description.

To document any incident, you have to follow a few simple steps like creating an account on Shocheton.org and then clicking on the “Report an Incident” button to open a form.

Then you have to fill in details like the type of incident, location, time, and any other relevant information. Upload evidence or photos if you have them. You may remain anonymous if you prefer.

According to the website details, the information you submit is stored in a secure database. The security of your personal details is prioritised.

The website has a moderation team which initially reviews the report. If needed, they coordinate with local organisations, law enforcement, or other sources to further verify the incident.

After verification, offender details and a summary of the incident may be published (if permissible).

“We also share maps, statistics, or summarised data to raise awareness about sexual offences,” says the developers.

This initiative will allow people to stay informed about sexual offences in their area and encourage open dialogue around sexual abuse or crimes.

The organisation also helps connect survivors with legal aid and psychosocial support organisations.

However, concerns have been raised regarding the potential misuse of such a platform, which could lead to false accusations. Proper verification before listing someone as an offender on the public registry and maintaining all other legal safeguards would be critical to the credibility of the platform.