DU enters second day of protests over student’s rape

Dhaka University (DU) students are protesting for a second consecutive day, demanding that those who raped and tortured one of the university's students – in Kurmitola on Sunday night – be arrested and receive the death penalty. 

Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Chatra Dal organised a human chain at the foot of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture around 10am. About two hundred leaders and activists of the student league, plus DU's general students, participated in the human chain.

Bangladesh Chhatra League has started painting portraits of rapists at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture, protesting the incident. They will also hold a rally there.

Chhatra League President Al Nahian Khan Joy told The Business Standard that they will continue their movement until the rapists are arrested. 

"Please arrest the rapists within 48 hours. Otherwise, the students will launch a tougher movement," he said.

Bangladesh Sadharon Chhatra Odhikar Songrokkhon Parishad will lead a procession on the campus at 12:30pm. They will hold a rally at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture after protesting on different roads of the university.  

The Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) will hold a rally at the same place at 3:30pm. 

Earlier, on Monday night, Duscsu leaders submitted a memorandum with a four-point demand to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal.

The four-point demand includes that: the rapists be arrested, initiatives be taken to prevent further untoward incidents, a committee be formed to counter rape and violence against women, that initiatives be taken for a social movement.

On Sunday afternoon, an unidentified man picked up the victim after she alighted from bus in Kurmitola area in the capital; then she was taken to a secret place where she was raped and tortured.

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Monday said legal action will soon be taken against those involved in the student's rape.