Yasmin tragedy day: 31 years on, the fight against violence continues

August 24 marks Yasmin Tragedy Day, commemorating the rape and murder of teenager Yasmin in Dinajpur by members of the police in 1995.

Three decades after the killing, activists and local campaigners say violence against women continues in various forms, underscoring the need for stronger law enforcement and greater social awareness.

According to accounts of the incident, Yasmin was travelling on a night coach from Dhaka to Thakurgaon on August 24, 1995, when she mistakenly got off at the Dasmail area of Dinajpur. A police patrol team later picked her up in a pickup van, saying they would help her reach home safely. She was instead raped and killed before her body was dumped by the roadside.

News of the incident triggered widespread protests across Dinajpur, with people from different sections of society demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Police opened fire on protesters during the unrest, killing several people and intensifying the mass movement.

The protests eventually became a lasting symbol of resistance to violence against women, and August 24 has since been observed as Women Repression Prevention Day.

After a lengthy legal process, the Rangpur District and Sessions Judge's Court sentenced then police assistant sub-inspector Moinul, constable Abdus Sattar and pickup driver Amrit Lal Barman to death on August 31, 1997. The verdict was upheld after appeals, and the executions were carried out in 2004.

Various programmes are being held in Dinajpur today to mark the day, including hoisting black flags, wearing black badges and holding mourning rallies.

Campaigners say the Yasmin case demonstrated that public resistance can play a crucial role in demanding justice, but the persistence of violence against women shows that legal action alone is not enough. They called for stronger enforcement of laws alongside sustained social awareness to prevent violence against women.