The Samajik Protirodh Committee, a platform of 69 organisations, yesterday expressed deep concern over the assault on floating sex workers in front of Shyamoli Square shopping mall in the capital recently.
A statement signed by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad President Dr Fauzia Moslem said the incident, reported in national dailies, drew the attention of the members of the platform. Multiple women were chased down and beaten with a stick. Several videos of the incident have also been widely shared on social media.
The way the women were branded as sex workers and beaten is a violation of human rights. Sections 323 and 325 of the Penal Code of Bangladesh clearly state that voluntarily causing injury to any person is a punishable offence.
Therefore, the platform demands that the accused person be identified and brought to justice immediately. At the same time, the government is requested to take necessary steps to ensure the safety of all sex workers.
According to the platform, all crimes must be prosecuted in line with the provisions of the law. Any person or persons who violate the law shall be prosecuted for disorderly conduct. Otherwise, the law and order situation will weaken in the country.
Several videos of these assaults went viral on Facebook. In a couple of videos, reportedly recorded on August 29, a man was seen beating up several women in front of Shaymoli Square. The man was later identified as HM Rasel Sultan by multiple media outlets.
