Police spreading misinformation to discredit anti-rape movement: Protesters

Student protesters under the banner of "Bangladesh Against Rape and Oppression" have accused the police of spreading misinformation about their movement by circulating a selectively edited video.

The allegation was made during a press conference at the Central Shaheed Minar today (13 March).

The demonstrators are demanding the removal of Dhaka Metropolitan Police's (DMP) Ramna Division Assistant Commissioner (AC) Abdullah Al Mamun and the prosecution of those involved in what they called an unprovoked attack on their peaceful march towards the Chief Advisor's Office on Tuesday.

Eden Women's College student Skaiya Islam, reading from a written statement, voiced concerns over the rising crime rates in the country. "Incidents of murder, robbery, theft, and violence against women have significantly increased. Rape and abuse have become daily occurrences. Women across the country face constant harassment, both on the streets and in cyberspace, making the environment unbearable and unsafe," she said.

She also criticised Home Adviser Jahangir Alam, accusing him of "completely failing to ensure public safety."

Sumaiya Saina, another Eden Women's College student, said, "The videos circulating on social media are fragmented, and a misinformation campaign is being run against us. The public should not be misled by these distortions."

The protesters claim that the video shared by the police is part of a broader propaganda effort aimed at discrediting their movement. They also assert that the police case filed against them is false. The protesters stressed that the police have a history of attacking democratic movements and that they are not afraid of the possibility of arrest.

The protest on Tuesday had been organised to submit a memorandum to the chief adviser, presenting a nine-point demand. The protesters allege that during the peaceful march, the police launched an unprovoked attack.

According to the demonstrators, DMP Ramna Division's AC Mamun, in civilian clothing, led the attack, using excessive force. They also claim that police harassed female protesters and injured journalists, reflecting an authoritarian approach to policing.

Skaiya Islam said, "At least 15 people, including Sumaiya Saina, Meghmallar Basu, Ahmed Araf, Tasmia Nebula, Sajedul Islam, and Angang, were injured in this attack. The DMP did not deploy any female police officers and instead used male officers to attack female students. The protesters defended themselves, leading to injuries on both sides."

She continued, "After this police assault, we saw an organised group spreading propaganda to discredit our just cause. By sharing selective photos and fragmented videos, they are attempting to justify the attack. Many people have been misled by this false, distorted propaganda. We urge everyone to take a strong stand against rape and all forms of state oppression."

Sumaiya Saina added, "On Wednesday afternoon, we learned that the police had filed a false riot case against 12 students, including injured protesters and a journalist, as well as 70 to 80 unidentified individuals.

"What's even more shocking is that some people who were not even present at the protest were also named in the case. This mass filing of cases is a blatant abuse of power by the police. We demand the immediate withdrawal of these false charges."

Anti-rape protests have erupted nationwide in response to recent incidents of sexual violence against women and children. The demonstrations, fuelled by outrage over the brutal assault on an eight-year-old girl in Magura on 5 March and the rising number of sexual violence cases, have seen widespread participation from people across the country.