Rape of Yasmin Akhter

The rape of Yasmin Akhter refers to the rape and murder of a 14-year-old girl by members of Bangladesh Police in 1995 which resulted in mass protests in Dinajpur.[1][2]

History

Incident

Yasmin Akhter was a 14 year old domestic help in Dhaka. She was returning to her hometown in Dashmile area in Dinajpur on 24 August 1995. She was offered a lift by members of Bangladesh police in a police van. She was then raped and killed by three members of Bangladesh Police.[3][4]

Reaction

On 25 August 1995, Manoranjan Shill Gopal, the local Member of Parliament had informed Matiur Rahman the editor of local newspaper, The Daily Uttarbangla, that police had raped and killed a girl. Rahman learned the identity of the victim on 26 August and wanted to publish a news article but he was warned by the police not to. At night the police cut the electric supply to the news office. Rahman borrowed the electricity of his neighbor and used that to publish the news. Following the publication of the news mass protest erupted. The local police station was attacked and looted. Curfew was declared in the area. Police fired on protesters killing 17 and injuring about 100 people.[3][5]

Trial and legacy

Three police officers were accused in the case. Two of the police officers were arrested in 1997. They were tried and found guilty. They were sentenced to death in 2004. Amrita Lal, another accused was arrested years after the verdict. The trial process had faced resistance from the police who initially refused to register the case. The government was under pressure from women's rights activists and the civil society.[6] The convicts were executed. 24 August is marked as Resistance Day against Repression of Women in Bangladesh.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Alam, S. M. Shamsul. Governmentality and Counter-Hegemony in Bangladesh. Springer. ISBN 9781137526038. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  2. ↑ Kumari, Ved; Brooks, Susan L. Creative Child Advocacy: Global Perspectives. SAGE Publications India. p. 37. ISBN 9788132103288.
  3. 1 2 3 "Yasmin Murder 1995: Media played a brave role despite threat". The Daily Star. 24 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  4. ↑ Children in South Asia: Securing Their Rights. Amnesty International. p. 15.
  5. ↑ "She is mine". The Daily Star. 30 March 2016. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  6. ↑ "REMEMBERING YASMIN". The Daily Star. 22 August 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
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