Dhaka, Mar 07 (V7N) –A group of women held a protest in front of the National Parliament in Dhaka against harassment, assault, and violence on Friday. They demanded the removal of Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury for his "irresponsible and misleading" statements.
The protest, organized under the banner “Women Against Violence on Women”, highlighted recent incidents of harassment, assault, and cyberbullying against women across the country.
The protest highlighted incidents such as attacks on sex workers in Shyamoli, public harassment and abuse of two students in Lalmatia, harassment of a student over clothing at Dhaka University, assaults on girls' football fields in Rangpur and Joypurhat, continuous oppression of ethnic minority women, and daily harassment of women in various areas in Dhaka.
The protest highlighted the growing frustration with the interim government’s failure to address ongoing violence against women. Despite promises of justice, freedom, and equality, the government has not taken effective steps to protect women, and its inaction has only worsened the situation.
The statements made by key government figures, including Home Affairs Adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury and Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, were criticized for spreading misinformation and adding to the confusion, rather than reassuring the public.
Protesters demanded that immediate action be taken to stop organized attacks on women, curb hateful rhetoric, and hold the media accountable for their role in misrepresenting violence and protests.
The protesters specifically called for the removal of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, accusing him of eroding public trust with his misleading comments. The rally ended with a strong declaration that the protest would continue until women’s rights to live safely and with dignity were fully protected.
The protest ended with five key demands:
- The removal of Home Affairs Advisor Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, identified as an "instigator" of violence against women.
- The interim government must fulfill its responsibilities and take urgent measures to ensure women's safety.
- The government and law enforcement must be held accountable for their failure to prevent mob violence, targeted attacks, harassment, and rape, and must take strict action to stop these incidents.
- The media must stop spreading misinformation and play a responsible role in shaping public opinion.
- Measures must be taken to end cyberbullying, with exemplary punishment for offenders.
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END/MSS/AJ
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