Protesters deride police, DU authorities for ‘trying to protect’ sexual assaulters

More people have joined the protest against sexual harassment of women on Dhaka University campus during Bengali New Year celebrations, deriding the university authorities and police for their roles.

The protesters at a rally on Friday alleged that ‘silence’ of the university authorities and police over the incident was an ‘attempt to protect the assaulters’.
 
They also joined others in demanding immediate arrest of the sexual offenders.
 
Bangladesh Chhatra Union organised the rally in front of Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University campus on Friday afternoon.
 
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Gosthi President Kamal Lohani said, “This university and its students have been the centre of all movements in the history of Bengali nation. 
 
It’s embarrassing to protest against sexual assault on women that took place at this university premises.”
 
“All the students and teachers of the university should have come forward in protest at this incident, like they did during the movements in the past,” said the veteran journalist.
 
He also condemned the ‘silence’ of the Dhaka University teachers.
 
Chhatra Union’s DU chapter chief Liton Nandi had fractured his right arm while trying to save one of the women from the offenders at the Suhrawardy Udyan gate near TSC on Apr 14 evening.
 
Many, including the university authorities, have alleged that police personnel deputed at that spot had failed to stop the assaulters.
 

Lohani said, “The university’s proctor is now telling lies and police are saying they were isolated incidents.

“Will those involved in the assault submit the plan to police first and then commit the crime?”

Jahangirnagar University’s teacher Prof Anu Muhammad said, “We can clearly see from the statements of the university and police authorities that they are acting as the collaborators of the assaulters.”

“The university authorities and the proctor are trying to protect them,” he alleged.

Editor of Women Chapter Supriti Dhar said, “We, the women, have become frustrated at the developments in the past several days. The time to break the silence is here. If we stay silent, attacks will keep coming.”

Other speakers, who included Leftist political leaders, DU teachers and journalists, at the rally also criticised the university administration and police for their ‘inactivity’ during and after the shocking incident.

The Chhatra Union Friday also made a seven-point charter of demand including the university’s acting Proctor Amzad Ali’s resignation for ‘failing’ to do his job.

The other demands include investigation and action against continuous failure of the police personnel deputed on campus and ensuring foolproof security at Dhaka University.

The organisation also announced a string of protest programmes. They include a press briefing at 2pm on Saturday at Madhur Canteen, agitations across Bangladesh Sunday, human-chain on Apr 20 morning and submission of a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs in the following morning.

The Sammilita Sangskritik Jote from another rally at TSC premises on Friday afternoon gave the authorities four days to arrest those involved in the sexual assault.

The cultural platform also warned of tougher protests if the demand was not heeded to.