Dhaka: Speakers at a discussion on Thursday underscored the need for participation of people from all strata of life, especially males, in the #MeToo Movement running worldwide for its success.

Without participation of males, the movement cannot achieve its desired goal and there will be no end to sexual harassment of women, they said, reports the UNB.

#MeToo Movement–Bangladesh organised the discussion titled ‘#MeToo Movement in Bangladesh: Possibility and Challenges’ at the Jatiya Press Club.

Around 30 women from different professions took part in the programme and raised their voice against all types of sexual harassment of women.

‘We must raise our voice against any sort of harassment of women. We must appreciate those women who are revealing what happed to them. If we don’t expose the culprits, they’ll continue to repeat such crime,’ said Dhaka University Mass Communication and Journalism department Chairperson Prof Dr Kaberi Gayen.

Demanding institutional steps against those involved in such kind of crime, she said, ‘In our country, most of the media houses and government and private organisations have no specific guidelines on sexual harassment of women. Even in Dhaka University, if any female teacher is harassed by her male counterpart, the university authorities form a probe body to look into it instead of taking immediate action.’    

Conducted by Udisa Islam, chief reporter of online news portal Bangla Tribune, Mushfika Laizu, Zakia Sultana Mukta and Tashnuva Anan shared their experiences of sexual harassment at the programme.

Prof Fahmidul Haq of DU Mass Communication and Journalism department, Executive Director of Ain O Salish Kendra Sheepa Hafiza, Bangladesh Female Journalists’ Association President Nasimun Ara Haque Minu and Banglavision News Editor Sharmeen Rinvy, among others, addressed the function.