BNP demands trial of molesters at special court

Denouncing Tuesday's sexual assaults on a number of women on the Dhaka University campus, the BNP yesterday demanded the government arrest and try the offenders immediately in a speedy trial tribunal.

“The sexual assaults on women took place on the New Year's day on the campus of the country's premier educational institution at a time when we're talking about women's empowerment and ensuring their representation at various levels. Not only that, an indigenous girl was also molested by the activists of the ruling party's student body at Jahangirnagar University on the same day,” said BNP's International Affairs secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon.

Addressing a press briefing at the party's Nayapaltan central office, he also said, “We urge the government to take immediate actions against those assaulters, rogues and rapists. Hunt them down and try them in a speedy trial tribunal. We'll extend you all-out support to this end.”

On Tuesday, a group of youths in front of police sexually harassed a number of women at TSC as they went there to celebrate Pahela Baishakh, the first day of Bangla New Year.

The same day, a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League Jahangirnagar University unit activists allegedly assaulted a second year female indigenous student of Botany Department of the university during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations on its campus.

Later, BCL, the student wing of ruling Awami League, suspended five of its leaders and activists of JU unit on charge of physically assaulting the indigenous student.

Mentioning that rapists have no party and clan, he criticised the law enforcers for releasing some assaulters without arresting them when a group of youths caught them red-handed and handed them over to police. “When rapists and rogues are released without punishment they get inspired and repeat the same offence with a fresh vigour.”

Ripon also condemned the “physical attack” on Rajshahi University VC allegedly by a group of ruling party men led by an MP. “It's a very shameful incident that a VC who was appointed by the ruling party was assaulted by a ruling party MP.”