Violence against women sparks protests in Bangladesh, curbs imposed

DHAKA: Amid growing protests against attacks on women and rising incidents of rape, Bangladesh police on Thursday imposed restrictions on all kinds of meetings, rallies, gatherings, processions and showdowns in key locations for an indefinite period.

Areas under restriction include the official residence of chief adviser Mohammad Yunus, the secretariat and nearby locations. Bangladesh has witnessed intensified demonstrations in recent days, with protesters demanding resignation of the home adviser for failure to ensure safety and security of citizens, especially women and girls.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council issued a press note stating that 92 incidents of violence targeting minorities and indigenous peoples occurred in the first two months of this year. It is worth noting that in the five months — from Aug 4 to Dec 31 of last year — there were 2,184 attacks targeting minorities, the group said.

(With inputs from ANI)