Punish blasé cops, DU proctor

Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) yesterday issued a seven-day ultimatum to bring the culprits who molested over 20 females during Pahela Baishakh celebrations to book.

Meanwhile, Dhaka University Professor MM Akash urged for necessary action, after proper investigation, against police who witnessed the incident through CCTV but did not recommend sending police force there, against on-duty police who neglected their duties and against the university proctor.

At a press briefing, National Human Rights Commission Chairman Prof Mizanur Rahman slammed police for their role when over 20 women were molested on Pahela Baishakh, saying the law enforcers were "nonchalant" when the incident took place.  

Duta and Prof Akash's demands came when Dhaka University campus again turned into a ground of vehement protest as hundreds of teachers and students took to the streets demanding immediate arrest of culprits behind the mass molestation of females.

The students and teachers under many banners but all demanding the same thing formed a human chain from Curzon Hall to Aparajeyo Bangla.       

Prof Akash was addressing a human chain formed before the Faculty of Social Sciences. 
Bangladesh Students' Union formed a human chain near TSC around 11:00am.

Hasan Tarek, the union president, said if their six-point demand, including immediate arrest of the criminals and resignation of the university proctor, is not met by today they would wage a movement for removal of the vice chancellor.       
He said to press home their demands they would submit a memorandum to the home ministry today.

Different political parties, students of other education institutions and cultural personalities expressed solidarity with the demonstrators.  

Meanwhile, Duta's ultimatum was issued at a human chain in front of Aparajeyo Bangla, reports our DU correspondent.     
Treasurer Prof Kamal Uddin, and Duta President Prof Farid Uddin Ahmed, among others, addressed the programme. 

On the other hand, at the briefing at the commission's office in the capital's Moghbazar, Mizanur Rahman said the commission has learnt that some students handed over a couple of suspects to the police but they were released.    

"We have also learnt that police were unenthusiastic in identifying culprits by scrutinising the CCTV footage," he said.
He also said he is apologetic to the country's women over the incident of molestation.

Mizanur Rahman also slammed Dhaka's mayoral candidates for being silent on the matter.  "Till now, we have not seen any of the candidates who will be the city's guardian protest or express shock at the incident," he said.

At the Shaheed Minar of BM College of Barisal, Bangladesh Chhatra Union held a solidarity rally and called for speedy trial of the molesters.

Students, the college teachers' association, and women rights activists, among others, joined the protest.