Student bodies call hartal today over Tonu murder

Sohagi Jahan Tonu

A half-day hartal will be observed today across the country, demanding justice for the murder of Comilla Victoria College student Sohagi Jahan Tonu and also protesting the ongoing incidents of murder, enforced disappearance and rape.

On April 7, the two left-leaning students' alliances --Progressive Students' Alliance and Anti-Imperialist Students' Union--called the hartal, putting forward a six-point demand including quick disposal of all murder and rape cases, ensuring capital punishment for rapists, and taking measures for preventing pornography and drugs.

Holding a protest rally at Teacher-Student Centre of Dhaka University, hundreds of protesters brought out a torchlight procession at the capital's Shhbagh and adjacent areas yesterday evening, urging all to join the shutdown. Speakers at the rally said it was shameful for the whole nation that none was arrested or brought to book even after one of her murder. On March 20, Tonu was found murdered inside Comilla Cantonment.