March against rape heading towards Noakhali from Dhaka

Around 400 demonstrators have started their long-march programme from Dhaka to Noakhali's Begumganj upazila protesting the growing cases of rape, sexual harassment and violence against women across the country and the culture of impunity.

The march began from Shahbagh around 10:30am this morning.

Photo: UNB

The protesters including left-leaning parties, students, youths and rights activists, started their long march under the banner of "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity) to press home their nine-point demand. They are also chanting anti-rape slogans.

Mehdi Hasan Nobel, president of Bangladesh Students' Union said, "This march is part of our protest against rape and injustice..."

Photo: UNB

"Around 450 activists are taking part in this programme. Firstly, seven buses will depart from Gulistan, then another five buses will join the protest from Narayanganj," Sadikul Islam Sadik, vice president of Socialist Students' Front's Dhaka University wing, stated.

They held a rally at Narayanganj on their way and will hold another in Maizdi of Noakhali on Saturday.

Photo: UNB

Their demands include ensuring exemplary punishment of the perpetrators involved in rape and violence against women, resignation of the home minister and an end to repression of women.

Protests against rape and violence against women erupted across the country since the beginning of October, following the gang rape in Sylhet's MC College and Noakhali's Begumganj upazila.