Violence against women: Protests continue across the country
Besides students and citizens, political organisations and film artists also joined the protests
Protests continued across the country today (10 March) in response to recent incidents of sexual violence against women and children, sparking widespread outrage.
The demonstrations were in reaction to the brutal assault on an eight-year-old girl in Magura on 5 March, and a growing number of sexual violence cases reported in recent weeks.
A 10-km tailback was created on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway today as students blocked the road at Kotbari in Sadar Dakkhin upazila of Cumilla protesting the recent violence against women and children.
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Students from different schools and colleges including Cumilla Modern High School, Cumilla Government College, Cumilla Women College, and Cumilla Government Victoria College took to the highway around 10:30am at Kotbari and chanted slogans protesting rape incidents.
Vehicular movement on the busy highway remained suspended for two hours following the blockade, creating a long tailback and causing commuters' suffering, reports UNB.
The students also threatened to go for tougher movements if the authorities concerned fail to ensure exemplary punishment of the rapists.
On information, police rushed to the spot and requested the students to withdraw their blockade. The traffic movement returned to normal around 1pm after police intervention.
Students of Rajshahi University also blocked the Rajshahi-Dhaka Highway today for nearly an hour demanding the completion of trials of rape cases within 30 days and the installation of DNA sampling collection machines in divisional cities.
At around 12:15pm, several hundred students gathered in front of the main gate of Rajshahi University and blocked the highway. The students lifted the blockade and called off their protest around 1pm.
The protesting students said they are alarmed by the ongoing violence and oppression against women across the country. They say the interim government must take responsibility and ensure the swift execution of the death penalty for rapists.
Earlier, students from various educational institutions in Rajshahi blocked the highway demanding the maximum punishment for rapists.
Political organisations also joined the protests. The student wing of BNP, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, yesterday warned that it would take to the streets if the government fails to curb the growing violence against women and improve the law and order situation in the country.
As part of their nationwide programme, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists formed a human chain in front of the High Court to protest increasing incidents of rape, online harassment, and violence against women, as well as the deteriorating law and order situation and the lack of justice for victims.
Chhatra Dal also staged a human chain in front of Feni Government College, demanding exemplary punishments for the culprits. They called for capital punishment for the perpetrators if the allegations were proven, reports BSS.
Additionally, Chhatra Dal organised a human chain in front of Jhenaidah College, drawing a large crowd, with participants demanding stern government action to eliminate crime. The KC College unit of Chhatra Dal held a human chain at Payra Chhattar, Jhenaidah.
In Savar, students and citizens held protest rallies and sit-ins, calling for the highest punishments for offenders.
Chhatra Dal's Savar University College unit arranged a street march from Shaheed Maruf Chattar to the university, while the National Citizen Party held a protest march in front of the Savar Press Club, demanding exemplary punishment for those involved in heinous crimes like rape.
In Jashore, the Mahila Dal district unit organised a human chain in front of the Jashore Press Club. In Bagerhat, the Chhatra Dal Kachua upazila unit and Kachua Degree College unit jointly arranged a human chain programme.
Film artists and professionals also expressed their condemnation of the Magura rape incident on social media and gathered in front of the Bangladesh Film Development Corporation's main gate yesterday, demanding a fast-track trial for the accused.
