Gang-rape of student: BCL attacks protesters

Bangladesh Chhatra League activists allegedly attacked students protesting the gang-rape of a university student in Gopalganj yesterday.

At least 30 students of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University were injured in the attack, said Prof Rajiur Rahman, the proctor of the university.

Around 9:30pm on Wednesday, a woman student of the university was gang-raped in the town, according to a case filed by the proctor.   

The woman and her friend were walking on a street in Nabinbagh area of the town when a group of seven or eight men stopped them and took them to a under-construction building and raped her.

The suspects tortured her companion before raping her, according to the complaint.

From the early hours of yesterday, students began to gather near Gopalganj Sadar Police Station and laid siege to the facility for nearly six hours, demanding punishment for the suspects.

Several hundred students later started demonstrating at Ghonapara on Gopalganj-Khulna highway in the morning. As the day progressed and more students joined, traffic flow was disrupted, causing long tailbacks on the road.

Around 5:00pm, a group of BCL men started hurling brickbats at the students, said several students, requesting anonymity.

More students rushed to the spot and chased the attackers away. At least 30 protesters were injured as both sides tried to take control of the area for nearly half an hour until police arrived and drove them away.

A seriously injured protester was taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital for better treatment.

Police have detained three youths for questioning in connection with the rape, said Manirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Gopalganj Kotwali Police Station.

Newton Molla, president of Gopalganj BCL, told reporters that no member of the organisation was involved in the attacks.

The detainees are: Piyal, 22, Antar, 22, and Jibon, 23.

Antar and Jibon are cleaners and their colleagues demonstrated in the town demanding their release.