A heart-rending news story that appeared in a prominent daily newspaper a few months back shocked us extremely. A young girl, student of first year English (honours) of a college in Manikganj, committed suicide to escape the disgrace of losing her modesty by an imposter. Before taking her life the victim left a suicide note. A rough English translation of the suicide note can be “My college life is ended. I could not hear the results of my examination. I had the desire to complete the honours course, I couldn’t. I had a lot of expectations in my life but all have gone in vain. I have to suffer what I am fated to. I had never thought I would end my life in this way. My destiny has pushed me to death.”  
 The rogue (55) who is an inhabitant of the nearby village posed to be a ‘fakir’ outraged her modesty in the name of treating her younger brother who is also a college student. Worried at the prolonged illness of his son, the victim’s father went to the so-called ‘fakir’ for the treatment of his son. The imposter in the garb of a faith healer assured her father that he would cure his son but he will have to allow his young daughter to stay with him in a room for a few hours at night. The girl’s father agreed to the condition set by the fakir and allowed his daughter to enter into a room at 8 at night with the fakir. After long six hours the girl came out of the room bruised and devastated. What the debauch did to the young girl in the name of treating her younger brother is beyond imagination. He simply satisfied his perverted lust ruining the life of the girl totally.                          
It is simply difficult to believe that when science and technology have advanced far, still there are many people who are steeped in ignorance. Their thoughts are still guided by age-old superstition, primitive belief, faith-healing, quackery, charlatan, talisman, etc. Taking advantage of the simplicity of the rural folk, a section of fakirs, kabirajs, quacks and others are thriving. They are exploiting the people. Many people are getting ruined being caught in the traps laid by these hoodlums.
Education enlightens a person by removing darkness. Education helps a person become conscious. But it is surprising to note that how a person whose two children are college students can be convinced by the bullshit mouthed by a scoundrel whose sole motif was to deal a blow to the image of a family. It is even more surprising to note that how a student of tertiary level can be agreed to the indecent proposal given by a rascal.
Well, she was compelled to be with the ‘fakir’ as the treatment of her younger brother was concerned. It also sounds silly that when medical science has advanced a lot, why should a person go to a faith-healer for the treatment of his son instead of going to a physician? Isn’t it inviting trouble for one unnecessarily?         
The victim’s father lodged a case in the police station against the fake fakir and the police arrested the rapist. But the worst has happened to the family and the damage is irreparable.
There are scores of fake fakirs in different places of the country. Their sinister activities are jeopardizing the life of many people. Their sole intention is to throw dust into the eyes of people. Taking advantage of the simplicity of the rural folk, they are thriving. In some cases, these imposters enjoy the patronage of the influential people. Very often the victims dare not open their mouths against them. Besides, many victims and their guardians keep mum about the damage done to the families fearing social stigma. It is the responsibility of the social leaders, public representatives and religious leaders, particularly imams of mosques, to generate awareness among the common people about the fake fakirs who in the garb of religion are exploiting simple-minded people.   
Committing suicide on the part of young and teenage girls is showing a rising trend in recent times. Newspaper highlighted a number of incidents recently. Humiliation led to most of the suicides. The girls will have to shun this dangerous tendency. Why should a girl end her life over an issue of whatever issue? Girls should learn to face the reality. They should learn to protest. What is needed is social resistance against these hoodlums. The parents, relatives and guardians have a crucial role to play in this regard.  

The writer is Assistant Editor of The Independent