Students protest against sexual assaults at Dhaka University during Bengali New Year celebrations

Several student organisations have come together to protest against sexual assaults on women celebrating the Bengali new year at Dhaka University.

They accused the police of ‘doing nothing’ while the women were being preyed on at the crowded campus, the hotspot for Pahela Baishakh celebrations in the capital city.

A gang of at least 30 was harassing women at TSC and Suhrawardy Udyan gate areas, witnesses said.

The unidentified men attacked Bangladesh Chhatra Union’s DU unit President Liton Nandi when he tried to shield the women on Tuesday evening. He was left with a broken right arm.

Nandi said he was beaten when he tried to rescue a woman who fell on the ground while the men tried to strip her of clothes. He gave her his Panjabi so she could cover herself.

The authorities at Bangladesh’s premier university have been ‘aloof’ about the sexual assaults, said Chhatra Union in a press conference at ‘Modhur Canteen’ on Wednesday noon.

Earlier, leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation and Biplobi Chhatra Moitri marched down on campus to register their protest against the shocking incident.

They demanded that police identify and arrest the women’s attackers.

“The incident took place at TSC and ‘Milon Chattar’, very close to where the
police were positioned. The police control room and CCTV cameras were there,” said Chhatra Union Organising Secretary GM Zilani.

“But police are yet to take proper steps. We demand that these men be arrested.”

“Fifteen to twenty women suffered the horrific assault at Suhrawardy
Udyan’s TSC gate when the entire nation was celebrating the Bengali New Year,” continued Zilani.

“The university and police have blamed each other in back-to-back statements.”

“Police were there but they did nothing. The university authorities, when they were informed, began lingering which made the situation go worse.”

Nandi, too, was present at the press brief with a sling around his neck. 

“I also demand a fair investigation into the university and police’s aloofness on the matter.”