Six Minors Victimized in Bangladesh; Protests Persist Against Yunus-led Interim Administration
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Synopsis
In Bangladesh, a disturbing rise in gender-based violence has led to the rape of six children, sparking widespread protests against the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus. Demands for justice and accountability are echoing throughout the country, highlighting the urgent need for reform in law enforcement and protection for women and children.
Key Takeaways
- Six children, aged six to fourteen, were raped in multiple districts.
- Protests against the interim government continue, demanding justice for victims.
- Demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
- Public outrage is growing due to the rising incidence of violence against women.
- Students and educators are actively participating in the protests.
Dhaka, March 11 (NationPress) Amid ongoing protest movements in Bangladesh against gender-based violence, another six children were victimized in six districts, according to local media reports on Tuesday.
At least seven individuals were apprehended on Monday on charges of rape across six districts.
These instances of sexual violence were reported from various districts of Bangladesh. The minors who suffered abuse are all between the ages of six to fourteen. In one tragic incident, a teenage girl, a victim of sexual assault, took her own life after being falsely accused and publicly shamed during a local arbitration meeting, as reported by the prominent Bangladeshi newspaper, The Daily Star.
The increasing number of sexual assault cases, despite the public outcry against the rising violence towards women, highlights the deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh.
Recently, the country has been engulfed in protest marches against the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus. Women have taken to the streets demanding justice for the victims of rape, harsher punishments for offenders, and the removal of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
Students and educators from various universities across the nation have also rallied against recent incidents of rape, including that of an eight-year-old in Magura who is currently struggling for her life, calling for severe repercussions for the criminals involved, as reported by local media.
During the protests, Dhaka University Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob demanded the termination of the Home Affairs Advisor instead of merely his resignation, stressing that she had made this demand months prior.
"Resignation is an honorable exit. He doesn't deserve that honor," she was quoted as saying by the leading daily, The Dhaka Tribune.
Various political factions that previously united to overthrow the democratically elected government of the Awami League, led by Sheikh Hasina, have criticized the interim government under Muhammad Yunus for failing to maintain law and order and addressing the increasing violence against women in Bangladesh.
At a rally on Monday, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) Senior Joint Secretary Ruhul Kabir Rizvi claimed that the surge in incidents of rape and violence against women in the country results from the current administration's negligence, as reported by United News of Bangladesh.
"Why is this situation arising under the current interim government? If the administration had functioned properly, incidents of rape, murder, injuries, and corruption would not have escalated," he stated.
Rizvi pointed out that the reality is that the frequency of rape incidents has increased, and women are unsafe anywhere in the country.
Addressing the media on Sunday, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar told The Dhaka Tribune, "Women and children are not safe anywhere today -- be it on buses, trains, launches, offices, homes, schools, or madrasas. The situation in the country is much worse than what is depicted in newspapers and media outlets."
Numerous cases of violence against women have arisen throughout Bangladesh since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed power in August 2024. The administration's failure to combat gender-based violence has triggered public outrage, with students calling for the resignation of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and demanding accountability from the interim government for the deteriorating law and order in the nation.
