Protests rage on for third day against sexual harassment of women on Bengali New Year’s day

Protests against sexual harassment of women on Dhaka University campus during Bengali New Year celebrations continue for the third straight day.

The protesters are demanding arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.
 
Students of the university formed a human chain to press for their demands in front of Raju Sculpture on Friday morning.
 
United Nations Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) staged another human chain protest later.
 
Their banner read, “Let’s be brave, prevent sexual harassment of women.”
 
Bangladesh Chhatra Union held a rally at the same venue in the afternoon.
 
The Dhaka University unit chief of the organisation Liton Nandi fractured his arm while trying to stop the offenders during the Pahela Baishakh festival.
 
An organisation – ‘Students of the University’ – formed a human chain around 11:30am.
 
Students of the Faculty of Fine Arts took part in the programme with cartoons lampooning the sexual tormentors.
 
Masters student SM Rakibur Rahman said, “What happened on the campus during the New Year celebration is a disgrace for the nation.
 
“The incident hung our heads in shame. I demand exemplary punishment for those responsible for it.”
 
Former BUET student Mehedi Haque said, “We want justice. Those responsible for it should be identified and punished immediately.”
 
UNYSAB President Mohammad Mamun Mia said, “Men and women have equal rights in a civilised society. So, the women will have to be given the right to move freely.”

Last Tuesday, a group of youth sexually harassed women in front of the gates of Suhrawardy Udyan and TSC during the festival.

People across the country are protesting against the incident for the last three days forming human chains and holding rallies.