Staff Reporter :
The High Court (HC) on Thursday issued a rule directing the authorities concerned to investigate into the incidents of sexual harassment against women in the Dhaka University campus during the Pahela Baishakh celebration on April 14.
The HC bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman asked the Inspector General of Police and the Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University to carry out investigations and submit separate reports before it by May 17.
In a suo moto rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government and Dhaka University to explain as to why legal actions would not be taken against the culprits involved in the assault against the women. The court also asked them to explain the steps taken against the perpetrators. Home secretary, Inspector general of Police, Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University, Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police of Ramna division and Officer-in-Charge of Shahbagh Police Station were made respondents in the rule. They have been given four weeks time to submit replies before the court. The HC bench passed the rule taking cognizance of the newspaper reports published on April 15 over the incidents. According to the New Nation report, several women were sexually assaulted near the TSC of Dhaka University in the evening on April 14 by a gang of rogue youths when they were coming out of Suhrawardy Udyan after joining the function of ‘Bangla New Year 1422’. A group of 30 to 40 unruly youths swooped on the women and sexually assaulted them. Later, some students rushed to the spot to rescue them. Some of the students were also physically assaulted as they tried to intercept the stalkers. Although the law enforcers were stationed only 20 yards away from the spot, they did nothing to rescue the women or arrest the assailants. The incident took place near the place where writer Abhijit Roy was killed in February, sparked anger among the people across the country. Different socio-political organisations have condemned the incident and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits.
