In a striking show of unity and protest against the sudden spike in rapes, hundreds of women brought out a procession in Dhaka right before midnight on Tuesday.
Heading towards Manik Miah Avenue in front of the parliament, the “March to Break the Shackles” (Shekol Bhangar Padojatra) with torches, anti-rape banners, festoons, and placards started from Shahbagh at 11:59pm.
Condemning the government’s failure to provide security for the country’s women, these protesters took to the streets to press home a 12-point charter of demands, including amending the archaic Penal Code to change the discriminatory definition of rape and make it more inclusive.
After reaching Manik Miah Avenue, the demonstrators — women from all walks of life including students, teachers, journalists, and rights activists — held a protest rally there.
During the march, they were chanting slogans condemning the surge in rapes across the country. A number of men also joined the march, showing solidarity.
A huge number of women join a procession, brought out in protest against rape and to press home a 12-point charter of demands, in Dhaka at Tuesday midnight, October 13, 2020 | Rajib Dhar/Dhaka Tribune
As of 2am, the protesters were still at Manik Miah Avenue, chanting slogans against the state's failure and patriarchy, and demanding justice for the victims and security of the survivors.
The demands
The first of their 12-point charter of demands called for ensuring exemplary punishment to the accused in all the pending rape and sexual violence cases around the country as soon as possible.
They also demanded that the Section 155(4) of the Evidence Act 1872 — which says the rape victim’s character can be shown as generally immoral — should be repealed, and the DNA Act 2014 should be made effective regarding evidence.
Their other demands included ensuring the security of women and children everywhere; an end to victim-blaming in every way; taking steps against those involved in harassing the victims; bringing necessary reform in the education system from primary level by introducing sex education; and a hotline for rural women to help stop sexual violence.
A huge number of women join a procession, brought out in protest against rape and to press home a 12-point charter of demands, in Dhaka at Tuesday midnight, October 13, 2020 | Rajib Dhar/Dhaka TribuneThey also included repealing of all laws and traditions that are discriminatory towards women; forming and making women repression prevention cells functional in all educational institutions and government and non-government organizations; an end to offensive remarks against women online or offline in the name of religious statements; and completion of trials in child rape cases within 90 days through a speedy tribunal.
Bangladesh has witnessed a wave of anti-rape demonstrations since the beginning of October, following the recent incidents of gang rape in Sylhet’s MC College and in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila.