The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

National Protest Day against Women Repression was observed in the country on the occasion of the death anniversary of Yasmin yesterday.

To mark the 13th Yasmin killing anniversary day, National Forum for Resistance against Women Repression with cooperation of Actionaid organised a discussion meeting at the Bengal Gallery in the city.

Nurul Kabir, Editor of the Daily New Age and Farah Kabir, Country Director of Actionaid addressed the discussion with the forum President Anwar Hossain in the chair.

Speakers demanded reformation of the Women Anti Repression Acts and immediate trial of cases involving repression on women.

Nurul Kabir stressed on changing power relation structure in the patriarchal society to stop violence and repression on women.

He said repression on women would never stop without a large-scale cultural movement and enhancing gender sensitivity in the society.

Farah Kabir said gender sensitivity among media men could reduce the repression on women, as the media could play a vital role creating awareness among the people on the issue.

Lawyer and journalist Nahid Sultana presented keynote paper on the killing and leader of mass movement created following the incident Razia Sultana presented her bitter experiences after the killing and role of the police against women.

Asma Akter Mukta conducted the function also addressed by Nayeema Imam Chowdhury of Actionaid and journalist Syed Borhanul Kabir.

Besides, various programmes were taken at the district level to mark the day.

Yasmin (aged 13/14) was killed after violation by the policemen in Dinajpur on this day in 1995. Later, police shot dead seven more innocent people during mass demonstration against the heinous incident and role of the administration. Three alleged policemen got death sentence in 2004.

The forum has been observing the day of Yasmin killing as the national protest day since 1996.