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Human Chain Protests Violence Against Girls in Bangladesh

January 7, 2013

Human Chain by THP-B.previewOn January 3, 2013 The Hunger Project-Bangladesh and the National Girl Child Advocacy Forum organized a human chain in front of the National Press Club to raise awareness about violence against women and to bring the rapists of a young girl to justice. More than 400 representatives from nearly 40 organizations, institutions and civil society participated in the assembly.

On December 6, 2012, 15 year-old Sathi Akter Moyna of Madhupur, Tangail was handed over to a group of rapists by another woman. The group held Sathi captive for four days and recorded the incident on video. Sathi was eventually found unconscious on rail road tracks by locals and has since been admitted to the One Stop Crisis Centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. She is now under intensive treatment with sedatives and psychiatric counseling. Her condition appears to be deteriorating.

A week after the incident, Sathi’s family was offered monetary compensation in a local arbitration. The family refused the compensation and instead filed a case with the local police. Unfortunately, despite overwhelming evidence of their guilt, the rapists were released on bail; spurring The Hunger Project-Bangladesh and other groups to take action.

Dr. Badiul Majumdar, THP-Bangladesh Vice President and Country Director called rape the most heinous act and asked the government to immediately act with the most appropriate punishment for the rapists.

A large number of high level civil society representatives have shown support for the protest.

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January 7, 2013