When a mother in Sirajganj protested against her daughter being harassed, she was beaten to death for protesting. This is despicable, shameful.

Forty-year-old Abu Hanef Ali, a powerful man of the locality, would harass his neighbor Khushi Begum’s daughter. He would always be after this 18-year-old girl. Complaining to the village elders made no difference, so the girl’s mother went to the man’s house to complain. She got into a fight with Hanef Ali’s wife and sister and they beat her to death.

Oppression of women has taken on frightening proportions in the country. According to Mahila Parishad, in July this year 368 women were abused in various ways in the country. Fifteen were subject to gang rape. Nine were raped and then killed. There were 19 incidents of attempted rape. Ten were sexually harassed. These numbers were gathered from the various dailies.

We will never get back the mother who went to protest against her daughter being harassed in Sirajganj. But if the offence against which she was protesting can be stopped, if the offenders are punished, then perhaps her family will find some solace.

Proper application of the law and due punishment of the abusers can lessen such incidents. Three persons, including the two accused women, have been detained for the killing of Khushi Begum. Hanef Ali, who had been harassing the girl, is the main offender and he should be arrested immediately. It is the government’s responsibility to provide security to the girl who has lost her mother, and to her family.