Students demonstrate in Dhaka protesting rise in rape cases

A group of students held a demonstration at Asad Gate in the capital today (23 February), protesting the rising incidents of rape across the country and demanding punishment for the perpetrators.

Several hundred students blocked the road at around 12pm, holding placards and chanting slogans against sexual violence. 

Vehicular movement on both sides came to a standstill during the blockade, causing commuters to suffer.

The students lifted the blockade at around 1:45pm and left the roads.

"Students from Mohammadpur and surrounding areas blocked the road around noon. They issued an ultimatum demanding the immediate arrest and trial of those involved in rape cases and then took to the streets," said Jewel Rana, additional deputy police commissioner of Tejgaon Division in Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

During the protest, students voiced their frustration, stating that they had noticed that law enforcement agencies responsible for ensuring security had failed their duties since 5 August. 

Many positions remain vacant, and we demand that these vacancies be filled based on merit, said the students. 

In recent times, multiple incidents of rape have occurred across the country, including on highways and even on a moving inter-district bus. 

Protesters claimed that victims were not receiving adequate support from the authorities.

One student said, "Every day, we see reports of rape incidents on the news and social media. Why aren't our mothers and sisters safe on the streets? Why is the administration not taking action? Why are rapists roaming freely without facing consequences? We demand stricter measures. Every rapist should receive the death penalty."

Meanwhile, another group of students also blocked the road near the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) headquarters in Jigatola, Dhanmondi, in protest at noon.