Absence of justice has become the norm in Bangladesh, something even High Court judges acknowledge these days, says rights activist Sultana Kamal.
He remarks came on Tuesday (Apr 16) during a human chain demonstration at Dhaka’s Shahbagh demanding justice for the murder of Feni madrasa student Nusrat Jahan Rafi.
Sultana Kamal, the eminent rights activist, was referring to the High Court’s statement of not letting Nusrat’s murder case be lost like Sagar-Runi's, Tonu's, or Mitu's cases.
The former adviser to a caretaker government, said: “According to our statistics, more than a thousand women were raped in Bangladesh in 2018 alone, while 63 women were killed after being raped. We are suffering from a culture of injustice.”
Calling Nusrat a symbol of bravery, she said: “She raised her voice against sexual harassment. She will be alive among us forever.”
Sultana demanded exemplary punishment of the murderer of Nusrat.
After the human chain, protesters brought out a procession, parading through Dhaka University campus, ending at Shaheed Minar.
National Women Labor Union, Bangladesh Women's Liberation Association, Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association, Bangladesh Juba Maitree, National Hockey Federation, Garment Workers Federation, Bangladesh Liberation War 71 Society, and the South Bengal Women Lawyers’ Council, also expressed solidarity with the human chain.
Naripokkho, a women’s rights platform, formed another human chain and protest rally in front of their office in Dhanmondi.
The platform placed a six-point demand, including immediate investigation and taking the guilty parties to court in Nusrat’s case.