Escalating Protests Against Sexual Violence in Bangladesh
Synopsis
Students in Bangladesh have taken to the streets to protest the government's inadequate response to increasing sexual violence against women and children, demanding immediate action and accountability.
Key Takeaways
Students protest against rising sexual violence.
Demands for government accountability.
Surge in sexual violence cases reported.
Calls for resignation of Home Affairs Adviser.
Concerns over safety among students.
Dhaka, Feb 24 (NationPress) In Bangladesh, students organized a protest march fueled by outrage over the interim government's inability to curb the escalating instances of sexual violence against women and children in recent days.
The demonstrations took place on Sunday at several notable educational institutions in Dhaka, including Jagannath University, Eden College, Government Titumir College, the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), and BRAC University.
Students shouted slogans such as, 'Wake up government!', 'End the silence, punish the rapists!', 'Stop the violence, protect women!', and 'Hang the rapists!'.
Pointing out the administration's failure to prevent these crimes, the students also called for the resignation of Bangladesh’s Home Affairs Adviser. They criticized the government for the alarming surge in rape incidents within the last 48 hours, describing it as a sign of profound lawlessness.
Samiha Chowdhury, a student at a Dhaka university stated, 'With rape cases surging, we are afraid to step outside. Even going to university feels unsafe. We want immediate action from the government,' as reported by Bangladesh's leading newspaper, The Daily Star.
The report titled, 'Statistics of Violence Against Women and Girl Children: September 2024', published by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, indicated a noteworthy increase in violence against women and children during September. This report was compiled from articles published in 16 daily Bangla newspapers from that month. According to the findings, incidents of sexual violence against women saw a sharp rise. Moreover, five girls and nine women who fell victim to sexual violence ended their own lives, with instances where victims were murdered by their assailants.
Another monthly monitoring report by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad titled, 'Statistics of Violence against Women and Girl Child: October 2024', documented 200 girls and women experiencing various forms of violence in October.
The violence against women escalated further in December 2024 and January 2025. The monitoring report revealed that 205 women and girls were subjected to violence in January 2025, an increase from 163 cases in December.
Several instances of sexual violence against women were reported in February 2025 as well. The Bangladesh Mahila Parishad condemned the rising incidents of crime against women on Sunday, questioning the effectiveness of law enforcement in Bangladesh, according to reports from The Daily Star.
