Police claim to have identified two people involved in the recent sexual assault of a student of Chittagong University (CU).
However, the names and identities of the suspects have been concealed for the sake of investigation.
“No one has been arrested so far in connection to the incident,” Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hathazari Model police station, told Dhaka Tribune on Friday.
“An investigation is underway to unravel the truth. Actions are being taken to bring all the culprits to justice immediately,” he added.
Prof Shireen Akhtar, vice chancellor of CU, assured that whoever was involved in the assault will face exemplary punishment.
“Nobody will be spared. I have received direct instructions from the higher authority. They will be punished for sure, no matter what their political identity is,” she added.
SM Monirul Hasan, acting registrar of CU, said: “I have promised the students that I will identify the guilty within four working days. The probe committee formed over this incident will be able to give further information on Sunday.”
Ashafi Nitu, former general secretary of the CU unit of Bangladesh Students' Union, said she was aware that the names of those involved would be disclosed on Sunday. However, general students of the university have expressed concern as police are yet to make a single arrest even four days after the incident.
On Wednesday, the victim filed a case under Section 10 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act accusing five unnamed perpetrators, said the OC.
Earlier, one of the victim’s friends alleged that the victim had attempted to file a formal complaint with the university administration on July 18, a day after the assault, but was unable to do so due to the interference of CU Chhatra League President Rezaul Haque Rubel.
On July 19, the Central Chhatra League issued a show cause notice to Rubel for allegedly engaging in anti-disciplinary activities.
He, however, denied the allegations and claimed that he had assisted the victim.
Rubel said: “Irrespective of party affiliation, the perpetrators should be seen as criminals.”
He also demanded that the authorities punish those who assaulted the CU student.
Earlier on July 17, a student and her companion were sexually assaulted in the Botanical Garden area on their way back to the CU’s hall from the campus’s Hotashar intersection area at night.
In response to the incident, several student organizations and general students organized protests and formed human chains for several issues, including security on the campus.
Amid the furore, students staged demonstrations – first before different dorms of the university and then before the VC’s residence – from 9pm on Wednesday till 1am on Thursday, pressing their demand for justice to be ensured over the sexual assault.