Today (24 February), Dhaka University (DU) students, alongside protesters from other universities and colleges, took out a march to the Secretariat, demanding the resignation of Home Affairs Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Jahangir Alam Chowdhury.
The call for his removal stemmed from growing frustration over rising crimes—rape, mugging, targeted killings—and what students describe as an “unresponsive and ineffective” law enforcement system.
At 2pm, the march set off from Central Shaheed Minar, moving through TSC towards the Secretariat.
The protest was organised under the banner Bangladesh Against Rape and Atrocities, a platform that had already announced its five-point demand on Facebook. But the students’ message was clear even beyond those bullet points: they were no longer willing to wait for change.
Security forces have failed us
Mishkat, a Disaster Management student at DU, did not mince words. “After 5 August, incidents of violence and harassment against women have skyrocketed. We don’t feel safe anymore, and security forces have failed us,” she said.
She pointed to one incident in particular—“A child was raped while picking flowers to pay respect to Language Movement martyrs. We dreamt of a new Bangladesh where women’s safety would be ensured. But this government has failed us.”
Adrita Roy, a student of Jahangirnagar University and one of the protest’s key organisers, reflected on the hope that had brought them to the streets before. “After 5 August, we thought things would improve. But they haven’t. Crime continues—rape, killings, muggings—yet neither the police nor the army have taken decisive action. The home adviser only issues statements, but that does nothing. We cannot let this continue.”
She recalled the July uprising and the collective anger that had fuelled student protests then. “The same spirit that brought us to the streets that time has brought us here again. We demand reforms in rape laws, among other things.”
For many, the government’s inaction has become intolerable. “It’s been six months, and the law-and-order situation is still a disaster,” said Tanvir, an Economics student at DU.
Mahfuz, a student from ULAB, echoed that frustration. “Every day, the situation gets worse. And the Ministry of Home Affairs is doing absolutely nothing. Last night, at a 3am emergency press briefing, we thought we’d finally hear strong measures to tackle crime. But no. The adviser gave a vague response, saying nothing of substance. If he can’t fix this, he has to resign.”
Toma, another DU student, put it bluntly: “We want the new Bangladesh to be safe for women and girls. But the same lawlessness continues. The home affairs adviser keeps denying reality and refuses to take accountability. If you cannot ensure safety, step down.”
She added that simply replacing the adviser wouldn’t be enough. “It’s not just about changing the person in charge. If the culture of rape remains the same, nothing will change.”
A growing movement
The frustration that spilled onto the streets of Dhaka University is not limited to one campus. Protests have erupted across the city.
Following a robbery in Banasree at 10:45pm on 23 February, DU students from various dormitories staged a midnight protest, demanding the home adviser’s immediate resignation.
Eden College students held a torch procession the same night, joining a larger movement demanding safety for women and children.
At East West University, students took to the streets the next day, protesting the sharp rise in theft, mugging, rape, and targeted killings. They issued a 24-hour ultimatum, calling for the immediate identification and prosecution of criminals. Students from private universities across the city joined in solidarity.
A question left unanswered
For now, the march has been stopped. The students have been blocked from reaching the Secretariat. But their demands remain unanswered, their anger unresolved.
How long before those in power start listening?