The University of British Columbia is rallying supporters of a Bangladeshi student blinded in an attack in her home country, and is taking donations to help pay for her recovery.
Rumana Monzur, 33, says she was attacked by her husband earlier this month in Dhaka, in front of their young daughter. She had her eyes gouged out, leaving her blind in a country with few institutionalized supports for the disabled. She remains in hospital.
UBC, where Monzur is a Fulbright scholar, says it has been in contact with her and will deliver all funds raised at the end of the month. She is a graduate student studying political science.
Hasan Sayeed Sumon, Monzur's husband, was been remanded in court this week after being charged with attempted murder. Female politicians in Bangladesh are pushing the country's president to make sure justice is served.
Monzur's supporters in Canada have targeted an online petition to that effect to the high commissioner for Bangladesh in Ottawa, although as of Friday evening only three people had signed.
On Sunday at 3 p.m., supporters will rally in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
"Please join us on Sunday if you know Rumana, and even if you don't, join to support the cause if you do not want to witness such brutality against other human beings," says the Facebook page created for the event. "We are coming together to voice our rejection of violence against women."
With files from The Canadian Press
