Bangladesh: Students Rally Against Surge in Gender-Based Violence, Call for Home Advisor's Resignation
Click to start listening
Synopsis
On March 10, students in Bangladesh protested against rising sexual violence, demanding justice for victims, stronger penalties for offenders, and the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. This mobilization highlights the urgent need for improved safety measures for women under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
Key Takeaways
- Protests initiated by students against rising sexual violence.
- Call for resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
- Demands for justice for rape victims and stricter punishments for offenders.
- Nationwide rallies triggered by a recent shocking rape case.
- Concerns over the safety of women in Bangladesh.
Dhaka, March 10 (NationPress) Hundreds of students mobilized across various locations in Bangladesh, including the capital Dhaka, to voice their dissent against the escalating incidents of sexual violence under the current interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.
Protesters, particularly from Jahangirnagar University (JU), demanded justice for victims of rape, enforced penalties for offenders, and the resignation of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury. They blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway early Monday morning to draw attention to the rampant lawlessness in the country.
They cautioned that if the Yunus administration fails to guarantee the safety of women, it loses its right to govern.
The recent brutal assault of a minor girl, who is presently fighting for her life in a medical facility, by a middle-aged man has prompted nationwide protests. "We have reached a juncture where we are all victims. The government cannot assure our safety," a protestor expressed to local media.
"No woman is secure, whether she is a child, a pregnant individual, a person with disabilities, or elderly. This is not the Bangladesh we envisioned. Perpetrators of rape must face capital punishment. We will not stand for another incident of sexual violence," another enraged protestor was reported saying by Bangladesh's Daily Star.
Students and educators from multiple institutions, including Dhaka University, North South University, Independent University, and Rajshahi University, have organized demonstrations addressing the deteriorating law and order situation and the surge in sexual violence cases.
On Sunday, the 'University Teachers' Network' convened at Dhaka University's Aparajeyo Bangla, where participants from six universities expressed their condemnation of the ongoing violence against women, examined its underlying causes, and criticized governmental shortcomings.
During the assembly, Dhaka University Professor Tasneem Siraj Mahboob urged for the removal of the Home Affairs Advisor, stating, "Resignation is a dignified exit. He does not merit that distinction," according to the leading Bangladeshi newspaper, Dhaka Tribune.
Since the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government assumed power in August 2024, hundreds of reports of violence against women have surfaced across Bangladesh.
"Society is spiraling into disorder, where lawlessness and criminal impunity are on the rise. The ineffectiveness of law enforcement, compromises, and lack of accountability are emboldening criminals," remarked Fauzia Moslem, President of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
