DU Correspondent :
Dhaka University (DU) students on Tuesday continued protests for the second consecutive day against rape and torture of a second year female student of the university in the capital’s Kurmitola area on Sunday night.
Beside, various student organizations also joined the day-long protest by bringing out processions and rallies on the campus.
They demanded that the accused be handed exemplary punishment so that ‘no one could dare to think of doing such a ghastly and barbaric act against women in the future’.
The protesters also expressed frustration that although 48-hour already elapsed, no one yet to arrest over the incident
Earlier in the morning, several thousand students gathered in front of Ruqayyah Hall with placards demanding capital punishment of the culprit.
They also chanted slogan “Hang the rapist”.
Besides, several hundred students of Political Science Department staged a protest rally at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture.
The protesters also burnt an effigy of the rapist there.
Speaking at the rally, Anika Anjum, a second year student of the Department blamed culture of impunity for the rampant rape incidents across the country.
She further said that after any incident of rape, general people become interested about the character of victim, which was kind of another ‘mental rape’.
Sabbir Ahmed, teacher of Political Science Department, said nowadays people talking about development but without ensuring security of people such development was meaningless.
Later, students of Bangla and Finance Department brought out separate protest rallies from the same spot.
At noon, Anti-Hooliganism Students Unity, an alliance of 12 student organizations comprising left student wings and Bangladesh Student’s Right Protection Council, brought out a protest rally from Raju Sculpture.
Bangladesh General Students Right Protection Council convener Hasan Al Mamun, Shamsunnahar Hall union vice-president Sheikh Afroz Tasnim, Socialist Students Front president Salman Siddique addressed among others at the protest rally.
They urged the government to bring the rapist to book immediately.
Meanwhile, student community against rape and sexual violence also formed a human chain in front of National Museum in the capital protesting the rape incident.
They also announced to hold a mass procession on Saturday afternoon from the programme.
Meanwhile, students from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Dhaka University (DU) painted alpana from the Ruqayyah Hall gate to the Raju Memorial Sculpture as part of their protest against the rape of a fellow student.
The artwork was initiated by DU unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Md Saddam Hussain, Chhatra League’s DU unit General Secretary, told media that the Dhaka University family is mourning now. We demand the safety of women everywhere across the country, including inside all campuses.
“If the Home Ministry fails to capture the criminal within 24-hour as per the Ultimatum issued by the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU), they have to be prepared for a social movement led by Chhatra League,” said Saddam, also the Assistant General Secretary of DUCSU.
Besides, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal gave a memo to the University Vice-Chancellor Professor Akhtaruzzaman demanding justice for the victim also held a protest rally at Raju Memorial Sculpture.
Meanwhile, three more students joined Sifatul Islam, a student of DU’s Philosophy Department who was observing a hunger strike in front of Raju Sculpture since 3:30am yesterday in protest over the incident.
Among the three, Saiful Islam Rasel of Soil, Water and Environment Department, and Mostafizur Rahman of Information Technology Institute joined Sifatul yesterday while another started the hunger strike on Tuesday.
