Pressure Intensifies on Bangladesh Home Affairs Advisor to Step Down
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Synopsis
Dhaka, Feb 24 (NationPress) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Advisor of Bangladesh, minimized concerns over the declining law and order, claiming only minor incidents occurred. This follows significant protests demanding his resignation due to rising sexual violence against women.
Key Takeaways
- Massive protests against the Home Affairs Advisor.
- Students demand his resignation for public safety failures.
- Accusations of police misconduct during protests.
- Surge in sexual violence cases in Bangladesh.
- Calls for government accountability regarding women's safety.
Dhaka, Feb 24 (NationPress) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, the Home Affairs Advisor to the interim government in Bangladesh, attempted to downplay the deteriorating law and order conditions in the country, asserting that only a few minor incidents have occurred and the security situation is satisfactory.
In response to a large protest march organized by student groups towards the Bangladesh Secretariat, demanding his resignation for not ensuring public safety and the increasing instances of sexual violence against women, Chowdhury stated his position.
“The Home Advisor cannot guarantee our safety, and the police under his command are silent. Women feel unsafe now. Therefore, we demand that the Home Advisor apologize to the nation and vacate his position,” a student was reported saying.
The protesters insisted that the Home Advisor should resign by Tuesday; otherwise, the movement would escalate. They held him responsible for the inability to secure safety for women in Bangladesh.
During the students' march towards the Secretariat, a clash ensued between them and the Dhaka police. One protestor, condemning the police for mistreating female demonstrators, remarked, “There isn’t a single female police officer in this unit. Yet, we are here, a procession filled with women. This is a women’s movement. These male officers have assaulted us. We firmly denounce this behavior.”
The students also organized a protest march on Sunday across several major educational institutions in Dhaka, chanting slogans such as, “Wake up government,” “End the silence, punish the rapists,” “Stop the violence, protect women,” and “Hang the rapists!”
Numerous cases of sexual violence against women have been reported throughout Bangladesh in recent months. The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad condemned the rising crimes against women on Sunday and questioned the effectiveness of the country’s law enforcement agencies.
