Masum Mia: JakkanIB Correspondent:
The recent spate of violence and rape against women in Bangladesh has shaken the conscience of the nation. A human chain and protest rally were organized by the National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam University Debating Society to take a strong stand against this social evil.
(23 February 2025) After 12 noon, ordinary students, teachers, and administrative officials participated in the program in front of the Nazrul Statue. The sky was overcast, with occasional drizzle. Still, the voices of the protesters were clear and firm—“We want the maximum punishment for the rapist, ensure the safety of women!”
Several recent tragic incidents have become one of the motivations for student protests. Some sensational rape incidents that took place in February 2025 have become the main reason for student anger. According to various human rights organizations and media reports:
February 3: A teenage girl was gang-raped and murdered in Comilla.
February 10: A university student was raped and murdered in her own home in Chittagong.
February 18: A housewife was brutally tortured in the capital.
February 20: A teenage girl was raped in Barisal and her family members were threatened.
According to a report by the Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, 42 rapes, including 26 girls, occurred in February.
Speakers at the rally strongly condemned the rape incidents that have taken place in different parts of the country and demanded strict punishment for the culprits at the earliest. One of the students said, “Violence against women has become a horror in our society. If it is not stopped now, this darkness will engulf all of us in the coming days.”
The students demanded the formation of a special tribunal to expedite the rape trial process.
To eliminate the administration's inaction in investigating rape cases.
To end the culture of impunity, ensure that criminals are punished as soon as possible.
A university teacher said, "It is not possible to remove this curse from society without fair trials and exemplary punishment. The law must be strict, but its implementation must be even stricter."
The university administration has said that adequate security measures will be taken inside the campus to strengthen the safety of women and a zero-tolerance policy will be followed against sexual harassment. However, there is no clear statement yet on what steps the administration is taking at the national level.
The causes of violence against women and rape are multifaceted - social degradation, lack of moral education, weak law enforcement, and political patronage of criminals are among them.
Experts say, "Not only strict laws, but social movements can eradicate this disease. A joint initiative of families, educational institutions, and the media is needed to raise awareness against rape."
Despite the rain, ordinary students spontaneously participated in the human chain and protest rally. At one stage of the program, they presented their demands to the administration and took out a protest procession from Nazrul Bhaskarya to Joy Dhwani Mancha.
At the end of the rally, the students announced more effective steps to raise public awareness against rape.
To curb heinous crimes like rape, mere protest is not enough, but effective prevention and long-term solutions are needed. Today's protest is not just a program, it indicates a social movement. It is possible to eliminate violence against women only through the combined efforts of law, administration, family and society.
The essence of the protest was echoed in the voice of a student, "Standing up against injustice is the true responsibility of humanity. We will not remain silent, the protest will not stop, this war will continue—until the curse of rape is removed from society."
