Violence against women: “We can no longer silence”

Monday 10 March 2025 12:00 am
Last Update on: Monday March 10, 2025 03:18 AM

Students burst into protest at national level, ask justice for violence against women, children

Personnel correspondent

Monday March 10, 2025 12:00 Last Update on: Monday 10 March 2025 03:18 AM

Dhaka University students hold a rally in front of Raju sculpture, demanding maximum penalties for rapists. Last night’s demonstration was one of many from all over the country against rape and violence rays against women. Photo: Amran Hossain

“>

Dhaka University students hold a rally in front of Raju sculpture, demanding maximum penalties for rapists. Last night’s demonstration was one of many from all over the country against the patent of rape and violence against women. Photo: Amran Hossain

The women went out into the streets of all over the country with justice requests for rape, stricter penalties for criminals and resignation of the counselor for internal affairs.

There has been a recent series of sexual violence throughout the country, and the rape of an 8-year-old girl now is fighting for a living man now, he has set up the nation in particular, triggering protests that started on Saturday night.

In the capital, students from seven colleagues affiliated at Dhaka University marched with lit torches in the Nilkhet area, around 7:00 pm yesterday. Later they kept a wake of candles.

The protests rocked the campus du throughout the day. The resident women’s students marched and organized a rally requesting the cessation of sexual violence and demanding exemplary penalties for criminals last night.

Umama Fatema, students’ spokesman for discrimination, announced the formation of the anti-purple platform and said that the main requirements are the immediate establishment of a special court to accelerate the judgment procedures and the punishment of the man accused of raping the 8-year-old girl from Magura.

She said that if the applications were not fulfilled in 24 hours, the home counselor must give up.

At the beginning of the day, the network of university professors organized a rally at Depanejioo Bangla, requesting that the officers of the Shahbagh police station be held responsible for not protecting the personal information of a student who recently accused an university employee of having sexual harassment.

The man he accused is Mostafa Asif Arnob, a Bookbinder, who has now been suspended.

Also, the police must be held responsible because it did not take measures when Arnob spread sexually abusive observations about the victim, teachers said.

They also demanded the identification and bringing in court of those who intimidated the student and threatened with rape and crime.

“As women, we suffer every day. We are not safe, even in our own houses. The interim government must ensure our safety.”

– Samarita Nag, student of Rajshahi University

A thorough investigation should be launched to identify and sue the men in the crowd who glorified the accused and the crime he was accused of, the teachers said.

The teachers’ network also denounced the home counselor LT Gen (RETD) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.

“In the last four months, I asked for the resignation of the counselor for internal business. Now, I want his dismissal … Why don’t we have a responsible government?” Professor du Tasneem Mahboob said.

Prof. Geeti Ara Nasreen and Prof. Samina Luthfa were also addressed to the rally.

Protest on other campuses

The students of the Jagannath University (JNU) marched and organized a rally in the evening.

The protesters started for the intersection of Tantibazar and kept the road blocked for almost 30 minutes. Later they demonstrated in front of their campus gate.

Evan Tahsib, a student leader, said: “The culture of impunity around sexual violence allowed such crimes to continue uncontrolled.”

Sifat Hasan Sakib, another activist, said: “From time to time, we see officers who delay investigations about rape. Continue even after the massage in the mass. It is a shame for our nation. We can’t stay silent anymore! We request the greatest punishment for the rapists. ”

Tania, a literature student, said: “People often blame women’s outfits. But if this were true, why are the women in Burqas and even innocent children of eight years are victims of such attractive crimes? The real problem is the deeply rooted perversion of some men. ”

Hundreds of students from Rajshahi University, mostly women, kept the Dhaka-Dirashahi highway for 30 minutes, declaring a boycott of classes and exams.

“As women, we suffer every day. We are not safe, even in our homes. The interim government must ensure our safety,” said Samarita Nag.

At the University of Jahangirnagar, they demonstrated students and teachers throughout the day.

The members of the faculty formed a human chain at the central Shaheed Minar, demanding correct investigations and maximum penalties for rapists.

Vice-Cancelul Ju, Prof. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, said: “Women’s violence reflects the moral degradation of the society. Students are rightly protesting. We ask the Government to take immediate measures.”

The students of the journalism have boycotted courses and exams. A student -led platform, Dhorshon Office Mancha, was formed.

Late at night, Ju students blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway, disrupting traffic for 30 minutes.

Students of the North South University, Bangladesh Independent University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology in Sylhet and the College of the Comilla Victoria Government also organized rallies.

In the first hours today, the students Du, Ru, Ju and the Khulna University went out.

In Du, Ashrefa Khatun, the spokesman of the Democratic Student Council of Bangladesh and Umama Fatema spoke.

They demanded that the home adviser, the law counselor and the business counselor for women and children be held responsible for not complying the safety of women and children.

In Magura, hundreds of students gathered at the Bhaina bus stand, blocking the Dhaka-Khulna highway.

They also besieged the Magura District Court.