Anti-rape protests rage for 6th day in Dhaka City

Protests against the growing incidents of rape, sexual harassment and violence against women are continuing in different parts of the city for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday.

Students, teachers, parents, activists of different organisations staged demonstrations on the roads in front of Motijheel Shapla Chattar area, Jatiya Press Club and Shahbag intersection demanding the toughest punishment for rapists.

Students of Motijheel Model High School and College and Motijheel Ideal School and College staged protests in Shapla Chattar area of Motijheel.

Several hundred students of the two institutions took to the street around 1:30pm and staged a sit-in after putting up barricades on the road, said Monir Hossain Mollah, officer-in-charge of Motijheel Police Station.

The students shouted slogans amid rains after blocking the road. Vehicular movement on Motijheel-Doinik Bangla and Motijheel-Ittefaq intersection remained suspended following the protest.

Meanwhile, protests against growing rape incidents and acts of violence against women across the country took place for the 7th consecutive day at Shahbagh in the city.

A number of protesters, mostly leaders and activists of left student bodies, started protests at Shahbagh from 4:30 seeking justice for rape victims and a strict law against rape and speedy trial of rape cases.

The protesters also demanded dedicated courts to deal with rape cases and death penalty for rapists.

They also demanded the resignation of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for “failing” to prevent rape across the country.They announced to continue their protests.

They organised an anti-rape photography exhibition today, hold a cultural event on Oct 12, a film festival on Oct 13, a women’s rally on Oct 14, and a cycle rally on Oct 15.

Besides, Muktijoddha Sangsad Sontan Command, a platform of Freedom Fighters’ children, is also protesting the recent rape incidents, including the DU student rape.

They put forward a,9-point demand, including the speedy trial of rapists. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (Basad) staged demonstrations in front of the Jatiya Press Club on Sunday amid rains.

Waves of anti-rape demonstrations erupted across Bangladesh after a video footage of five men gang-raping a housewife, stripping her naked and filming the video of the incident in Noakhali’s Begumganj upazila, went viral on social media on Sunday.

The incident occurred at Joykrishnapur village under Eklashpur union of the upazila on September 2.

source: UNB