TSC incident: Police yet to make headway

Police are divided on who is responsible for a sexual assault during New Year's celebrations at the TSC early Saturday morning.

Sources said police still couldn't trace the woman who was assaulted or arrest the accused responsible for the incident.

"Nobody, other than university students, would dare do this at the TSC," said a top ranking police office with the Detective Branch, who requested anonymity.

In an interview last night, Rafikul Islam, the officer-in-charge of Ramna Police, said the culprits may have come from outside the university. However, he said the police haven't arrested the attackers yet.

"We are still consulting student leaders and other Dhaka University officials to find the attackers," said Islam.

Prof. A.K. Azad Chowdhury, the vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, formed a committee, chaired by Prof. M. Shahadat Ali, to investigate the attack.

Other members of the committee include Dhaka University's proctor, Prof. A.K.M. Nurun Nabi, and its treasurer, Prof. Abul Hashem. The committee has been asked to submit its final report as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Dhaka University authorities and human rights organisations have asked the government to post a reward for information leading to the attackers' arrests.

Alina Khan, a member of the Bangladesh Society for Enforcement of Human Rights, said photographs of the attack printed in several newspapers should be widely publicised along with a reward.

The society is also conducting its own investigation into the attack, said Khan.

UNB adds: AYBI Siddiqui, the inspector general of police, told UNB that they did not consider the attack "a silly matter. We took the matter as a serious one and a directive has been given to find out the culprits immediately."

Police official also expressed their embarrassment over "irresponsible" comments made by the officer-in-charge, who showed little sympathy with the victim of the attack that reportedly took place in the presence of police.

Several lawyers and police officials said an investigation wasn't necessary, since many national dailies published photographs of the attack.