Violence Against Women in Protests
During the July Revolution of 2024 in Bangladesh, female students and women protesters faced widespread and brutal physical violence from law enforcement agencies, members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)—the student wing of the ruling Awami League—and hired attackers. Protesters, both male and female, were targeted indiscriminately in coordinated assaults that occurred nationwide. These attacks included protesters being mercilessly beaten with poles and customized weapons, assaulted, hacked with machetes, and even shot dead. The government’s response, carried out by police in collaboration with BCL members, was marked by excessive and disproportionate force, including the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and live ammunition. This resulted in numerous fatalities and severe injuries among demonstrators. Despite this extreme violence, the resilience and determination of the protesters—particularly the women—emerged as a powerful symbol of resistance. Their courage inspired wider participation in the movement and played a crucial role in driving the eventual downfall of the fascist hasina regime.
