Home minister confirms March 7 sexual assault

Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal yesterday acknowledged the incident of sexual harassment of a college girl in the capital's Bangla Motor area on March 7.

“The incident is true that some were pulling the scarf of the college girl. We have collected the video footage,” he told a school's annual prize giving ceremony in Tejagon Industrial area in the capital.

Those who committed the crime will face punishment, he said, adding, they already collected video footage and will identify the culprits after scrutiny.

“You saw the gatherings of millions of people on that day. Both men and women were there. Then why such an incident like pulling the scarf happened? Who are they? We have to see who did it being a part of the rally.”

Asaduzzaman said the law enforcers visited the girl's house and talked to her mother.

On March 7, the female student uploaded a Facebook status, saying she was harassed near Bangla Motor by a group of youths who were moving in a procession.

The next day, the father of the girl filed a case with Ramna Police Station under the Women and Children Repression Act in connection with the sexual assault.

According to the case statement, the incident happened when the 18-year-old girl was on her way home from her college. Some 15 to 20 youths in white T-shirts -- all aged between 25 and 30 -- surrounded the girl and started teasing her.

“They tore her uniform… [later] a traffic policeman rescued her and helped her board a bus. She returned home after that,” the statement said.

On March 7, several city streets were clogged with traffic for hours due to a rally organised by the Awami League at Suhrawardy Udyan marking the historic March 7 speech by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

On social media, at least seven women alleged that they too were physically and verbally harassed on roads during the rally.

'BARBAROUS'

Meanwhile, Human Rights Forum Bangladesh (HRFB), a group of 20 human right organisations, yesterday demanded exemplary punishment for the perpetrators.

The coalition includes Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK), Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust (BLAST), Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF), Nijera Kori, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) and others.

Referring to newspaper reports and social media posts, a statement said the female student was harassed “abashedly and barbarously”.

“We have been getting news of such sexual harassment in public places in recent years, which is very alarming,” the statement read. “Those who were involved in the incidents of sexual harassment during Pahela Baishakh celebrations are yet to be identified and punished,” the statement added.

Thanking the traffic police officer who rescued the girl, HRFB urged the other officials of the law enforcing agencies to follow the example.

HRFB also called upon all the law enforcers to discharge their duties being free from bias and influence by any quarter.