Netrakona Correspondent

A human chain was held in Netrokona to protest rape, violence against women and sexual harassment across the country, and the violence against children and women in Gaza.

The program was held on the road in front of Kunia Fajrennesa High School in Sadar Upazila on Thursday (March 27) afternoon.

This protest was organized by the Kunia Community Forum, Youth Group and Women’s Party members and with the support of Bangladesh Women’s Progress Association.

It was presided over by Kamal Hossain, president of the Kunia Community Forum, and moderated by Jenny Akhter, president of the Youth Group.

Speaking at the human chain were Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha Center Manager Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty, Community Forum Vice President Tahmina Akhter, members A. Rashid and Masum Kabir, women’s group leaders Shapla Akhter, Mamata Begum, Youth Group’s Mobashwira Akhter, Tumpa Akhter, and others.

The speakers said that today our women are not safe anywhere. Girls are being raped by family members, relatives and even by their fathers. We cannot trust anyone now. We now have to create awareness as well as resistance.

While describing the incident of a girl being raped by a father in Durgapur, Mrinal Kanti Chakraborty, center manager of Bangladesh Nari Pragati Sangha, said, “As men, we are ashamed.”

The Women’s Progress Association repeatedly discusses these issues in various meetings.

But many of you may not believe it. Such incidents are happening all around us today. We should build resistance.

In his speech, Community Forum President Kamal Hossain said, “We, the Community Forum, have promised from today that if any incidents of violence against women and sexual harassment occur in our area, we will take strict action.”

Our girls will go to school, college and market safely. We will provide them with security. At the same time, we condemn and protest the way children are being killed by Israel in Gaza.

He demanded that the United Nations take strict action to prosecute the killing of children and women in Gaza, instead of remaining silent.

Women’s groups, youth groups, community forum members, and ordinary people of the area participated in the human chain.