Eve teasing in Bangladesh:

1.      Eve teasing in Bangladesh:

According to the World Reference dictionary, ‘eve teasing’ is a euphemism used in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal for public sexual harassment, street harassment or molestation of women by men (Wikipedia 2012). In Bangladesh, eve-teasing was a means to disturb young women as a light matter up to a certain period of time. But now it has taken a tremendous shape of sexual harassment for a female counterpart by its male counterpart. Using filthy languages, movement of body in various ways and whistling are some of the ways to disturb young girls. Now-a-days many people believe that there is no difference between eve-teasing and sexual act. The word eve teasing is usually used when a female is harassed on the streets or pavements. On the contrary, the word sexual harassment is used when it takes place at offices, houses or any other barricaded places (Ashraful Alam. 2010).

Now-a-days eve teasing has become one of the most severe problems of Bangladesh. It brutally infringes the freedom and right of mobility of a woman, 90% girls from as low an age as 10 years are affected by eve teasing. It has reached to such an alarming situation that many girls committed suicide in the last three years due to eve teasing. Many female students are forced to stay at home giving up their studies. Parents are marrying off their school- and college-going daughters in order to avoid this horrible situation. No government initiatives to tame teasers have proven effective so far.

In Bangladesh there are some laws which may be said to relate to sexual harassment although not specially stated. But recently High court issued Judgment protecting women and girl children from sexual harassment at workplaces, educational institutions and public places. The High Court on May 14, 2009 issued a set of guidelines defining what would be called sexual misdemeanors and asked the authorities concerned to stop it at workplaces (non- government, government and semi government), educational institutions and public places with a view to protect women and girl children. The guideline provides clear definition of physical, sexual and psychological harassments that might be conducted through SMS (Short Message Service), wall writing, pornography, eve teasing etc. The judgment also elaborately directed the government and other concerned to form committees in the spirit of the constitution, the rules and procedure of the committees and the power of the committee to deal with complaints, to look after the incidents of sexual harassment against women and girl child. The guideline also mentioned not to disclose the identity of any individual unless the complaints are not proved. But the accused shall be tried based on the merit and nature of the offense, if it is found true. The guidelines, which emphasised on the awareness of mass people about sexual harassment and its punishment, will be considered law until necessary laws are enacted by the government on the basis of the guidelines to be followed by the institutions mentioned.