A female worker of readymade garments was allegedly gang raped in Mulaid area of Sripur in Gazipur early Tuesday.

Officer-in-Charge of Sripur Police Station Golam Sarowar Jahan said the house owner of the victim ousted her from the house on Monday night raising different accusations.

Taking advantage of the situation, one Mizan Fakir in the name of helping her provided her a room in his house, OC said.

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Later, as the night progressed Mizan went to the victim’s room and violated her along with four others, the cop said.

However, the victim managed to flee from that room and filed a case over the matter in the morning, he added.

Police arrested one of the accused and are trying to catch the others, OC said.

Also read: Housewife ‘gang-raped’ in Patuakhali

Rape culture

Rape incidents continue to take place even after the government amended the law making death penalty the highest punishment for the crime.

Last month, a police headquarters report said 26,695 rape cases had been filed across the country in the last five years.

Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data show that 1,018 children were raped last year, but only 683 police cases were filed. Also, 116 victims were 6 years old or below.

Also read: Police HQ: 26,695 rape cases filed in 5 yrs, with notable jump since 2019

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

The original number is believed to be higher as most victims don’t report incidents of sexual assault fearing for their safety and social stigmatisation.

Following days of protests against sexual violence against women across Bangladesh, the government introduced death penalty for rape in October last year. In November, the Parliament passed the necessary amendment.