Female students in Dhaka staged a protest march on October 22, 2024, to condemn the escalating violence against women. — AFP
Late on Tuesday, crowds of Bangladeshi female students marched through Dhaka with torches ablaze, urging the government to address the reported surge in violence against women. Some protesters expressed disappointment that the student-led revolution that ousted former autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina in August had not led to improvements for women.
"The recent uprising, which saw significant participation from women, raised hopes for an end to rape, harassment, and a guarantee of security," said protester Israt Jahan. "However, we see no change; we are still in the same situation as under the fascist regime."
The Bangladesh Mohila Parishad, a women's rights group, reported a more than 25% increase in cases of violence against women in September compared to previous months. The group gathers data from 10 national newspapers and verifies it with their own information.
The protesters chanted, "Freedom! Freedom!" as they marched through the Dhaka University campus, with dozens holding torches. Transgender woman Joya Sikdar joined the march to show solidarity. Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, appointed as the country's "chief adviser," is leading a temporary administration to restore democratic institutions in the Muslim-majority nation of around 170 million people.
"There should be no inequality among the citizens of Bangladesh," said Rupashi Chakma, another protester. "Violence against women across all regions of the country must end."
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