June 1, 2002
3:00 PM -- Theater 3
40 Seats

26 minutes
Language: Bangla with English subtitles
Year and Country of Production: 1999. Bangladesh
Director: Yasmin Kabir

Duhshomoy recounts the tragedy of Shima Choudhury, a 16-year old garment factory worker. Shima was travelling with her boyfriend Hafiz on October 8th 1996, when police detained them both under section 54 of the Bangladesh Code of Criminal Procedure. In stead of being produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of her arrest as required, Shima was sent to nearby Raozan Police Station. That night, Shima was allegedly gang raped by four policemen in the police station.

Later, Shima was sent to jail for "safe custody". Women and children, who are subjected to rape, sexual assault, kidnapping, etc. are routinely detained by police in "safe custody", which supposedly protects them from further violence. Four months later, on February 7th, 1997, Shima died in jail. Her case has become a landmark issue in the Bangladeshi women's struggle against institutional oppression.

The main purpose of the documentary is to highlight the injustices that are frequently inflicted on the powerless section of the Bangladeshi society. The film draws attention to the severe maltreatment women typically experience at the hands of the police and judicial system in Bangladesh. It also shows the disempowerment of the poorer section of Bangladeshi society and their inability to utilize the existing judicial system.