Students stage sit-in at Shahbag demanding maximum punishment for violence against women
During the protest, students chanted slogans such as “Justice, justice, we want justice,” "We want the rapists hanged," and "Who are you, who am I, Asiya, Asiya."
Highlights:
- Students from 30 colleges stage daylong sit-in protesting violence against women
- Demand death penalty as only punishment for rapists
- Demand rapists to be arrested immediately, executed within 72 hours of conviction
Students from 30 colleges in the capital are staging a daylong sit-in at Shahbag, protesting the recent rise in violence, rape, and torture against women and demanding the maximum punishment for the perpetrators.
Gathering in front of the National Museum from around 11:30am today (11 March), students arrived in small processions.
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Law enforcement agencies took a vigilant stance, deploying additional police personnel throughout the area.
The students plan to submit a memorandum of their demands to Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus, as well as the legal and home affairs advisers.
Participants included students from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, Birshreshtha Munshi Abdur Rouf Public College, Birshreshtha Noor Mohammad Public College, Dhaka City College, Dhanmondi Ideal College, Dhaka Residential Model College, Notre Dame College, Dhaka College, and several other institutions.
The protesters are demanding strict and immediate action against rapists, emphasizing public punishment for offenders.
They call for a zero-tolerance policy, insisting that the death penalty should be the only form of punishment for rapists.
Additionally, they demand that in cases of rape, the accused must be arrested without delay, medical reports must be completed within 24 hours, and, based on victim testimony and evidence, the rapist should be sentenced to execution within 72 hours.
Most of the demonstrators were from the higher secondary level.
During the protest, students chanted slogans such as "Justice, justice, we want justice," "We want the rapists hanged," and "Who are you, who am I, Asiya, Asiya."
A protesting student said, "We had announced a blockade of Shahbag to protest against the oppression of women. But considering the suffering of people during Ramadan, we have withdrawn the blockade. Instead, we will continue our sit-in next to the National Museum until evening."
As of the filing of this report, students were still at the protest site, with more participants from institutions such as Motijheel Ideal School and College, Noubahini College, St Joseph School and College, BAF Shaheen Dhaka, Begum Badrunnesa Government Women's College, Udayan Higher Secondary School, Adamjee Cantonment College, and Government Laboratory High School expected to join.
