A rally was held at Dhaka University’s Raju Vaskorjo on Friday in solidarity with Sahara Chowdhury Rebel, the transgender activist who began a hunger strike demanding marriage and civil rights for LGBTQI citizens in Bangladesh. The rally was joined by student organizations, feminist groups, teachers, human rights defenders, and allies.
Sahara, who had relocated several times throughout the day after being denied space and assistance by the proctorial body and security forces, addressed the crowd with a speech drawn from her prepared “Queer Manifesto.” Her demands focused on ensuring socio-economic and marriage rights for LGBTQI and gender-diverse citizens.
During the event, the microphone was reportedly shut off by university authorities, though participants restored it under collective pressure. Supporters alleged that police and intelligence personnel photographed protesters, and that Sahara’s Facebook account was deactivated mid-protest.
Sahara collapsed at the end of her speech and was taken home by friends, where she received medical attention and saline. She has since ended her hunger strike but expressed gratitude to those who stood beside her, stating that the public, political nature of the protest achieved its purpose.
In an email circulated by Sahara’s friends after the rally, organizers condemned the ongoing media blackout and state surveillance, emphasizing that Sahara faced repeated institutional pushback from the Dhaka University administration and harassment from intelligence forces.
The statement reaffirmed the community’s collective stance:
“As queer, LGBTQIA+, and diverse citizens of this country, we demand our civil, social, political, medical, and economic rights as citizens, and stand by Sahara. Civil Rights or Death.”
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 