Police Obstruct Mass Protest of ‘Bangladesh against rape and oppression

People Protesting with Banner by Nahmad Hassan via Pexels, Feb 26, 2022

Police clash with protesters in Bangladesh during a march against the recent rise of violence, rape and oppression against women.

The incident occurred on March 11th, 2025 when the police were deployed to block a march that began in Dhaka University. Activists of the platform called ‘Bangladesh against Rape and Harassment’ were on their way to the chief advisor’s house to submit a memorandum with demands when policed blocked them (Prothom Alo, 2025). The activists are demanding justice for rape victims, stricter punishment for offenders, and the resignation of the Home Affairs Advisor over the government’s failure to curb incidents of murder, rape, and sexual violence (The Financial Express, 2025a). The march began at around 2:45 pm from in front of the Raju Statue at Dhaka University. The members of the march were stopped by police when they passed the Intercontinental Hotel. Protesters tried to push past police barriers at which police charged with batons to disperse the crowd. 

The protesters alleged that the police had resorted to aggressive tactics. The police then allowed a five-member delegation to submit the memorandum to the chief advisor (Prothom Alo 2025a). Several police officers were injured during the clash and authorities have initiated legal proceedings against those involved in the attack (TBS Report, 2025). Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) released a statement claiming that protesters engaged in a scuffle with police and attacked them with sticks and bricks (The Financial Express, 2025). The protesters eventually moved back to Dhaka University.

Sources and Further Readings

Prothom Alo. (2025). Police obstruct, lathicharge mass march of ‘Bangladesh against rape and oppression’.  Retrieved on March 11th, 2025 from https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/capital/vhy5uv6ptf?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign&utm_content=ap_dvkxggnlw7 

Prothom Alo. (2025a). Police charge batons on protesters during anti-rape March. Retrieved on March 11th, 2025 from https://en.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/city/0nrm1kx2qu 

TBS Report. (2025). 7 cops injured in attacks during anti-rape protest; police warn of legal action. Retrieved on March 11th, 2025 from https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/several-cops-injured-attacks-during-anti-rape-protest-action-be-taken-against-attackers 

The Financial Express. (2025). Cops come under attack during anti-rape protest: DMP. Retrieved on March 11th, 2025 from https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/dmp-claims-its-officers-were-attacked-during-anti-rape-protest 

The Financial Express. (2025a). Protest march towards Jamuna faces police obstruction near Hotel Intercontinental. Retrieved on March 11th, 2025 from https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/protest-march-towards-jamuna-faces-police-obstruction-near-hotel-intercontinental