Tripura minor girl's rape sparks protest
Several rights organisations yesterday demanded justice over an alleged rape incident of an indigenous minor girl in Khagrachhari on Thursday -- the day when the country was celebrating International Women's Day.
Staging a rally to protest the incident, the speakers said the country's existing laws failed to protect women from crimes such as rape and sexual harassment.
Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP) along with Hill Women's Federation (HWF) jointly organised the protest in front of Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbagh in the capital.
According to the protesters, a young girl of Tripura community was raped by a person from Gomoti union in Khagrachhari's Matiranga upazila on Thursday morning.
Speaking at the rally, Joint Convener of Bangladesh Adivasi Nari Network Rakhi Mrong said indigenous rape victims have been deprived of justice.
“Last year, 65 incidents of violence against women took place. Although there is the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000, its proper implementation is not taking place. Hence, protecting indigenous women from rape is not likely [under the prevailing situation],” she said, referring to a report of an indigenous rights organisation, Kapaeeng Foundation.
Nipon Tripura, general secretary of PCP (Dhaka unit), said, “Women are not safe at schools or colleges today. It's a shame that such heinous crime was committed on International Women's Day.”
Condemning another rape incident that took place on January 22 at Rangamati's Bilaichhari upazila, Chandra Tripura, president of HWF (Dhaka unit), said, “It's a disgrace that indigenous women are becoming victims of rape in an independent country. It's a result of the culture of impunity.”
Rebang Dewan, general secretary of Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad, condemned the sexual harassment incidents on women during Awami League's rally on March 7.
Different student organisations including Garo Students' Forum and Tripura Students' Forum expressed solidarity at the rally.
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