Published on 11:48 AM, April 20, 2015

Protest erupts at DU over sexual assault

Teachers, students and members of political and socio-cultural organisations demand immediate punishment to the perpetrators responsible for the sexual assault on women during the Pahela Baishakh celebration. The demand comes from the rally at Dhaka University campus Monday. Photo: Star/Sohel Parvez

Hundreds of teachers and students of different institutions and members of political and socio-cultural organisations today demanded immediate punishment to the perpetrators responsible for the sexual assaults on women during the Pahela Baishakh celebration.

The unified demand came from three separate human chains formed on Dhaka University campus.

Bangladesh Chhatra Union formed an-hour-long human chain in front of Raju Sculpture near Teacher-Student Centre around 11:00am with the participation of teachers, students of different institutions including DU and members of different political and cultural organisations.

The human chain stretched over one and a half kilometres’ area on the campus, reports our correspondents covering the event.

Later, hundreds of teachers and students joined another human chain organised by Dhaka University Teachers Association in front of Aparajeyo Bangla.

Another human chain was formed in front of Social Science Faculty of the university with the same demand. The programme was still going on till 1:00pm when the report was filed.

Some 30 to 40 rowdy youths assaulted and sexually harassed around 20 women for about an hour at the Suhrawardy Udyan gate near the TSC area on Tuesday, the first day of Bangla New Year, sparking widespread public outrage.