Agitations galore at DU demanding capital punishment for rapists

Following the rape of an eight-year-old girl in Magura, students and faculty from Dhaka institution staged protests under several flags, igniting the widespread rape and violence against women that has been plaguing the institution since Saturday night.

Under the banner of the “Anti-Rape Platform,” hundreds of students from Dhaka University staged a torchlight parade this evening to call for the death penalty to be applied to those responsible for rapes all throughout the nation.

Following their midnight procession yesterday night, students under the platform led a torchlight march this evening from the base of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture, ending at the same location after making their way through several important areas of the institution.

Earlier, on Saturday night, more than a thousand students marched from various dorms to the Raju Memorial Sculpture at TSC under the platform, demanding that rapists receive the harshest punishment possible.

At Dhaka University, a group of female students calling themselves “Bangladesh Against Rape and Harassment” staged a bamboo-stick demonstration in which they called for the death penalty for rapists in addition to nine other demands.

Some university teachers also joined the rally, which marched through the key points of the campus and concluded with a rally at the foot of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture.

In the morning, the University Teachers’ Network, a platform for private and public university teachers, organized a human chain and protest rally at the foot of ‘Aparajeyo Bangla’ on the campus, protesting ongoing violence against women and demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits.

The university teachers urged the government to bring the culprits involved in violence and harassment against women to justice and ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible.

Students from several university departments staged human chains and protest marches during this time, screaming anti-violence against women.

As part of their continuous protests calling for the punishment of rapists, students from at least 36 departments at Dhaka University boycotted their courses and exams and conducted rallies throughout the day.