Protests flare up against rape, torture on women across Bangladesh

Chhatra Odhikar Parishad holds a rally in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh protesting against the Noakhali incident. – Sourav Losker

Different organisations and groups, as well as students in Dhaka on Monday, protested at places of the capital protesting against continuous rapes, sexual harassment and torture on women across the country.

A video of sexually harassing and torturing a middle-aged woman by a group of youths in Noakhali that went viral on Sunday fuelled the outrage and protests.

Left-leaning student organisations jointly began their protests at Shahbagh intersection in the capital sometimes after 11:00am that created traffic congestion in the surrounding areas.

The protesters had been chanting slogans against the government’s inaction for protecting the girls and women from rapes and violence and demanded  immediate resignation of the home minister.

Political leaders, including Ganosamhati Andolan chief coordinator Zonayed Saki, Communist Party of Bangladesh leader Abdullah Al Kafi Ratan and Left Democratic Alliance coordinator and Socialist Party of Bangladesh leader Bazlur Rashid Firoz, spoke in the demonstration.

The demonstrators carried posters that read ‘shame, shame’, ‘we demand home minister’s resignation’, ‘rapists do not get punishment here’ and ‘state machinery stands as rapists’ among others.

Their protest was continuing.

Chhatra Odhikar Parishad held a rally in front of the National Museum at Shahbagh protesting against the Noakhali incident.

Speakers at the rally alleged that the rape and violence against women had been increasing due to a culture of impunity and the involvement of politically influential people.

They urged the people to take to streets to protest against the incidents.

Working journalists in the capital formed a human chain on National Press Club premises in Dhaka protesting against rape, sexual harassment and torture on women across the country.

Dhaka Reporters’ Unity vice president Nazrul Kabir and Ekushe Television senior reporter Mushfika Naznin spoke in the programme.