Rape at Sylhet MC College triggers protests; probe body formed
Students of Sylhet MC College today staged demonstrations, setting fire on the road, in front of the college --protesting the rape of a woman at the dormitory last night.
According to UNB, Over 100 students of the college blocked the road around 12:30pm, demanding immediate arrest of the rapists.
The protesters alleged that the college authorities have kept its hostel, having nine blocks, open when all the educational institutions across the country remained closed due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, UNB reported.
Though the authorities were "aware of various criminal activities" in the dormitories, they did not shut those down, the protesters alleged.
They threatened to go for tougher movement if the police fail to arrest the accused, the agency said.
PROBE BODY FORMED
A three-member probe committee has been formed with Prof Anwar Hossain Chowdhury, a teacher of Mathematics department of the college, as convener, said Principal Saleh Ahmed.
The committee has been formed at an emergency meeting of the academic council.
Meanwhile, two guards of the hostel have been suspended.
CASE FILED
The husband of the victimhas filed a case -- accusing six named and several unnamed persons -- with Shahporan Police Station in the early hours of today.
Several students of the college claimed that the accused are involved with Bangladesh Chhatra League but they do not hold any post as there is no committee of the unit in the college.
The accused are: Saifur Rahman, Shah Mahbubur Rahman Roni, Arjun Lasker, Mahfuzur Rahman Masum, Tarek Ahmed and Rabiul Islam.
Among the suspects whose names were mentioned in the case, Saifur, Mahbubur, Arjun and Mahfuzur are students of MC College while Tarek and Rabiul are outsiders.
The husband and wife went to visit the college campus in Tilagarh area in Sylhet city in their private car, which was intercepted by a group of youths around 8:00pm yesterday.
They forcefully took them to the hostel, tied the husband and raped the wife, Abdul Kaiyum, officer-in-charge of Shahporan Police Station, said citing the case statement.
On information, police rushed to the hostel, rescued the victim and sent her to the One-stop Crisis Centre of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital around 12:00am.
There are allegations that some local AL leaders tried to settle the matter soon after the incident, which delayed the rescue of the victim and gave ample scope for the accused to run away.
However, police denied the allegation.
JyotirmoySarker, additional deputy commissioner (media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP), said, "Police identified the perpetrators and are now conducting drive to arrest them".
Meanwhile, police recovered a pistol, four sharp weapons and some iron rods from the room of the hostel superintendent, which has been used by accused Saifur.
The OC Abdul Kaiyum said, "An arms case was filed by the police against Saifur."
PRINCIPAL'S STATEMENT
According to UNB, Principal Saleh Ahmed said, "Action will be taken against the students responsible for the rape. Their studentship will be revoked."
Asked why the college hostel was kept open when all educational institutions across the country are closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Principal said, "It has been kept open for the poor and meritorious students as they're involved in small jobs and private tuition in the city."
He said the students were asked to vacate the dormitory by 12 noon today.