Afsana Kishwar Lochan staged a one-woman protest against rape. Determined to stand against the crime, which has become all too prevalent, Afsana stood on the footbridges at Uttara’s Rajlokkhi and Azimpur areas with an anti-rape poster on Monday.
The poster read: “It is only possible for a man to put an end to rape. Stop rape. Be a real man and stop rape.”
Afsana believes awareness about rape can increase if more people stage protests in their respective areas.
When asked why she decided to stand in protest alone, Afsana said: “I took to the streets many times before. Rape is still prevalent and there is no end to it. It has caused me so much distress that I decided to stand alone, on my own – instead of waiting for fifty people to turn up or standing with a poster at Shahbagh.”
When asked about people’s reaction on her stance, she said: “I have not paid attention to that too much. Someone has walked passed me – making a dismissive grunt; some also came forward to give me advice.
“I just carried on… to fulfill my duty.”
According to a report released by Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) on March 31, over the last three months, 187 women were raped—19 of the victims were murdered after rape and two victims committed suicide. Besides, rape attempts were made on 21 other women.
ASK also reported that 27 women were sexually harassed; one of them committed suicide. Two men were also killed for protesting sexual harassment.
