LEADERS of the ruling part affiliated student front (BCL) at Rajshahi University (RU) mounted physical attack on female students on Wednesday and attempted to sexually abuse some of them in broad-day light. They threatened for gang rape. Media reports on Thursday said the miscreants assaulted five female students of the Institute of Health Technology (IHT) and following the incident the authorities have shut the institute sine die.
The action taken by the institute is enough to show the lawlessness in the campus and people wonder what the members of law enforcement agencies are doing instead of arresting the culprits and put them under the bar. The society is witnessing a total break down where physical safety of women is under open threat. Let there be no laxity, every such criminals must be held under bar.
It is unimaginable that the miscreants had pushed at least five female students to the ground and dragged and assaulted them in front of police and the Principal of IHT. A group of BCL men led by President of the institute unit attacked them when they were returning to their dorm with the principal. The victims left the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where the institute is located, in a hurry fearing further attacks. The victims even did not agree to give names fearing reprisal.
The assault followed other incidents over the last three days, following refusal of female students to take part in a human chain on the campus. Female students wanted to hold the program in the city’s Zero Point area. The BCL leaders went inside the women’s dorm and threatened the resident students with gang-rape if them don’t agree to join their human chain. The fact is that female students now fear vulnerability at small failure because student leaders make open attempt to abuse them ignoring all civility and decencies.
Not this time alone. Earlier this year, the institute remained shut for over a month after a brawl between rivaling groups of BCL men. That incident on December 28 last year took place over establishing supremacy on the campus. The shut down this time will also cost academic teaching. BCL-men are blamed for unleashing a reign of terror on many campuses of public educational institutions across the country and for killing dozens of students. Lack of police action and legal impunity are making reckless. Needless to say female students are always victims in such situation if they venture at wrong place or at wrong time.
We must say the ruling party leaders must tighten control over their cadres and make sure disciplinary measures to save female students from sexual assault. Female members also come from their families. So every one must take every step to ensure honor and dignity of womenfolk at all cost at all places.
