United News of Bangladesh

A doctor has been arrested for allegedly raping a patient at his clinic in Kalua Bazar village of Ghaibandha's Gobindaganj upazila. The arrestee has been identified as Shaharul Islam, a resident of the village. Read: Police rape case: Court orders to file FIR against PIB SP According to local residents, the woman suffering from an ailment visited Dr Shaharul's clinic on Thursday evening. As no one else was there at the clinic then, the doctor forced himself on the woman. Locals detained the doctor and informed police after the woman came out of the clinic and raised an alarm. On information, a team from the local police station arrested Shaharul. Tajul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (investigation) of Gobindaganj Police Station, said a rape case has been filed against the doctor. Bangladesh's rape epidemic Sexual assaults on women continue unabated in Bangladesh, despite the government introducing death penalty for rapes last year. Read: Chamber judge stays bail to accused in ULAB student rape, murder A police headquarters report, released recently, said that 26,695 rape cases were filed across the country in the past five years. Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) data shows that 1,018 children were raped last year alone, but only 683 police cases had been filed. Also, 116 survivors were six years old or below. Overall, 1,627 rape cases were reported last year and 53 of the women were killed by the perpetrators while 14 took their own lives, as per the data. However, ASK's data is just the tip of the iceberg, according to aid agencies, who report that most women are too afraid to report rape. In October 2020, the country was rocked by protests after a woman was allegedly attacked and raped in Noakhali. Read:Teenage school girl gang raped in Panchagarh: Prime accused held In November last year, Bangladesh introduced capital punishment for rape, following days of protests against sexual violence against women in several cities across the country. But human rights organisations say the move will not solve the country's rape crisis, as the survivors of the heinous crime are often stigmatised in the society.