A group of students observed the “Occupy the Night” program at Dhaka University in solidarity with the ongoing protest against the rape and murder of a doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, demanding a fair investigation and justice for every rape case in Bangladesh following the mass uprising.
Around 10pm on Friday, students gathered at the foot of the Anti Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University.
The gathering included teachers and distinguished individuals expressing their support.
Earlier, the students had marched across the campus with placards reading: “Poshaker Bahanay Par Pabena Kono Pisach” and “Proshno Jokhon Sadhinotar, Bangla Jure Oyaddedar,” among others.
Tania Mahmuda Tinni, a teacher at United International University, criticized both India and Bangladesh for not being women-friendly even after decades of independence.
She questioned whether women warriors like Pritilata, who fought alongside men, would have envisioned the current state of women's rights. Despite having a female prime minister for many years, Tinni expressed disappointment in the failure to protect grassroots women.
She called on the interim government to create a new Bangladesh with laws ensuring equal rights for women.
Tania Mahmuda Tinni also said that the current legal system perpetuates inequality and fails to provide equal opportunities for women. She emphasized the need for laws that ensure equal opportunities and human rights, so women would not need to protest for their rights.
Additionally, she criticized the hall administration at Dhaka University for attempting to assassinate the character of female students who return late. Tinni stressed that educational institutions should focus on education, not character assessments, and that women are capable of ensuring their own safety.
Ania Fahmin, a student from the anthropology department at Dhaka University, noted that most rape cases in Bangladesh are not filed, and even those that are filed rarely make it to trial.
She pointed out that many incidents only come to light through social media, underscoring the lack of justice for victims.
Fahmin emphasized that the RG Kar incident has highlighted ongoing issues in the country and reiterated the need for exemplary punishment for perpetrators.
