The rape of Yasmin Akhter

The rape of Yasmin Akhter refers to the rape of a 14-year-old girl by members of Bangladesh Police in 1995 which resulted in mass protests in Dinajpur.

Yasmin Akhter was a 14 year old domestic help in Dhaka. She was returning to her hometown in Dashmile area in Dinajpur on 24 August 1995. She was offered a lift by members of Bangladesh police in a police van. She was then raped and killed by three members of Bangladesh Police.

On 25 August 1995, Manoranjan Shill Gopal, the local Member of Parliament had informed Matiur Rahman the editor of local newspaper, The Daily Uttarbangla, that police had raped and killed a girl. Rahman learned the identity of the victim on 26 August and wanted to publish a news article but he was warned by the police not to. At night the police cut the electric supply to the news office. Rahman borrowed the electricity of his neighbor and used that to publish the news. Following the publication of the news mass protest erupted. The local police station was attacked and looted. Curfew was declared in the area. Police fired on protesters killing 17 and injuring about 100 people.

Three police officers were accused in the case. Two of the police officers were arrested in 1997. They were tried and found guilty. They were sentenced to death in 2004. Amrita Lal, another accused was arrested years after the verdict. The trial process had faced resistance from the police who initially refused to register the case. The government was under pressure from Women rights activist and the civil society. The convicts were executed. 24 August is marked as Resistance Day against Repression of Women in Bangladesh.

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