On April 14, 2015, traditionally celebrated as Pohela Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali New Year, a shameful incident unfolded in the heart of Dhaka. According to multiple reports, more than 20 women were sexually assaulted in the area of Dhaka University in the evening during the festivities. The attacks went on for over an hour.
One of the eyewitnesses and rescuers, then-President of the Bangladesh Student Union, Liton Nandi, stated that a group of men almost tore the clothes off a 25-year-old woman. Shockingly, this happened within 20 yards of police officers stationed nearby. To make matters worse, police authorities initially denied that any assault had taken place, despite the availability of CCTV footage and several eyewitness accounts.
Even after a decade, justice remains out of reach. Detectives filed a final report without identifying or charging any suspects. No one has been held accountable. The lack of serious investigation and failure to ensure justice after ten years reflects the grim reality of how survivors of gender-based violence are treated, even when there is public evidence and formal complaints.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives demands justice for the survivors of the 2015 Pohela Boishakh sexual assaults. This event, like many others, was buried under institutional silence and political protection. In several accounts, the assailants were shielded because of their political affiliations.
If the post-July Uprising Bangladesh seeks transformation, it must ensure swift and transparent justice for survivors of sexual assault and rape. Without justice, there is no progress—only repetition.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 