A Nation Vulnerable, by Nazifa Meher

“Bangladesh does not have specific laws or provisions which address the added vulnerabilities of

socially excluded communities in relation to crimes of rape/sexual assault.”

– Equality Now

“To create a society where every child can grow up free from fear and violence, the interim

government and all stakeholders need to take immediate and decisive actions to strengthen and

invest in child protection systems.”

– Rana Flowers

     I recall the streets of Dhaka,

     my mother’s grip tightening

     “Keep your head down,” she whispered

     as we walked through the bazaar —

     passing men who leered,

     elongated shadows.

     the silence that engulfed my fear.

Yet silence does no good

     For an eight-year-old girl from Magura

     who had to face a battle she never asked for

     Sadly, had little chance in winning

People grieved and moved on

     For a second grader in Sirajganj

     For the ever-rushing women

     trying to make it back home

     before the sun sleeps

     Aggressively moving towards their home

     as if there were no shadows by the wall

     A nation that once shouted loudly

     now chokes on its own cries

     The streets down in rage

     Citizens stifle a final plea

     The borders of Dhaka, rumbling with animosity

     But the ones in uniform stand still.

     Hands idle. Eyes averted.

     When did their duty turn to dust?

     Mob justice is raging

     Assailants roaming the streets

     Their beatings persist

     More names buried, more faces lost

     294 lives lost in January

     69% rise in robbery and mugging

     Women’s voices are strangled

Yet the law sleeps

     The fall of government

     The fall of safety

     Of dignity

     Of broken promise

     The crimes never stop

     These losses of names and voices

     Never stop

No more.

Let the streets tremble with our voices.

Let the courts open their ears

Let the police remember who they serve

And let no child, no girl, no woman,

Ever walk these streets

Afraid to exist.