State that fails to stop child rape now bans family film: Rumeen Farhana

State that fails to stop child rape now bans family film: Rumeen Farhana

Barrister Rumeen Farhana has questioned how a state that fails to prevent child rape and sexual abuse can assist in halting film screenings.

The MP for the Brahmanbaria-2 constituency was speaking at a human chain protest on Monday afternoon, June 1, against the suspension of the film 'Bonolota Express' in Sarail, Brahmanbaria.

"A film that families could watch together has been banned. But a state that cannot protect a six-year-old child from rape, cannot stop corruption and bank looting, why does that same state help ban a film?" she asked.

Farhana further said, "In the last two years, we have seen one shrine after another demolished, bodies exhumed and burned. We have seen the rise of extremism. But the soil of my country was not like this! In this country, we heard the Quran recited in the morning and small children practising songs on the harmonium in the afternoon. Who wants to turn this Bangladesh into a land of fundamentalism?"

"The state that couldn't stop any crime, that couldn't protect little children from rape, why is that state now helping to stop cultural activities and pushing the next generation towards darkness?" she added.

Earlier on May 30, the Brahmanbaria Film Society had postponed the screening of 'Bonolota Express' following protests by madrasa students in the district town. On the same night, police and the upazila administration reportedly went to Taltala village in Kasba upazila and halted the film's screening.

The human chain was organised under the banner of people from all walks of life in Shahbazpur union, Sarail upazila, and was attended by leaders of various socio-cultural organisations and people from different professions.