On 20 November 2025, a Trans Day of Remembrance vigil was held at Raju Sculpture, with participants gathering from 7 pm near TSC and lighting candles at 8 pm. At the same time, a Khelafat Majlish Jubo Andolon rally on the Port Deal and neocolonialism took place on the same grounds. Police, intelligence officials, and the DU Proctorial Team repeatedly approached the vigil with questions and resistance.
After candles were lit and the banner hung, convener Hasib opened the vigil. Around 30 people attended to honor Hijra, trans, intersex, LGBTQ+, and gender-diverse individuals killed or pushed toward death, including those lost to suicide. A list of demands was shared in memory of the dead and in support of those still struggling. Veteran activist Joya Sikder read the demands, during which the adjacent rally began shouting hate speech, claiming trans and queer people had “no place in Bangladesh” and labeling them “perversions” tied to neocolonialism.
Speakers Muntasir Rahman and Nasrin Siraj reflected on remembrance, solidarity, and the life of Utsho, a trans woman. As they spoke, the verbal attacks escalated. Reporters covering the other rally pulled Muntasir toward their crowd for a byte, where he was surrounded and intimidated by chants. Before dispersing, participants extinguished the candles to avoid fire risk.
As the vigil ended and attendees prepared to leave, DU student Sorbomitra Chakma and others attempted to disperse both gatherings. The opposing crowd used this moment to shout “pervert,” “sleaze,” and “homosexual” at the last participants. Online videos later misrepresented the vigil as having only two people and falsely portrayed organizers as outsiders chased out of campus, despite DU students attending and negotiating with the proctorial team. Sorbomitra later apologized to Muntasir.
Participants said they respected shared space and ignored the harassment, but the continuous disruption made it difficult to hold moments of silence or sing in remembrance of the dead.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 