A High Court bench on its own volition issued a ruling upon the authorities concerned yesterday to investigate the incidents of sexual assault on women during the Pohela Boishakh celebrations on Dhaka University campus Tuesday evening.
The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman also fixed May 17 for passing further orders on the matter.
The court asked the inspector general of police and the DU vice-chancellor to conduct investigations and submit separate reports to the court by May 17. The respondents were also asked to mention what steps they had taken against the culprits by that time.
Deputy Attorney General Tapash Kumar Biswas said the court also asked the government and the DU authorities to explain in four weeks why they should not be directed to take appropriate legal steps against the culprits.
The Home Ministry secretary, the IGP, DU VC, commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, deputy commissioner of police’s Ramna division and officer-in-charge of Shahbagh police have been made respondents to the ruling.
The bench came up with the order after two female lawyers brought the matter, published in four national dailies, to the attention of the court.
Several gangs of rowdy youths sexually assaulted at least 20 women at the Suhrawardy Udyan gate near the TSC and elsewhere of the DU campus from Tuesday afternoon until evening.
The incidents tainted the joyous celebration of the Bangali’s biggest festival Pohela Boishakh sparking widespread public outrage on the streets and social media platforms. They mostly blamed the police for inaction and the DU authorities for mismanagement during the programmes.
Although the law enforcers were stationed only some 18 metres from the spot, they did nothing to rescue the women or arrest those who launched the sexual assaults, witnesses said. Three students of the university were hurt while trying to save the victims.
After a series of protests and outrage in social media since Tuesday, police now say following CCTV footages, they have noticed one incident near the TSC roundabout and are investigating the matter.
In some incidents, the attackers were honking vuvuzelas during the assaults to suppress the victims’ screams, witnesses said, adding that they also filmed the incidents.
The assaults took place within less than two months after three-four women were sexually harassed in public near the entrance of Suhrawardy Udyan at the TSC intersection during the Amar Ekushey Book Fair.
The Dhaka Tribune published two photos of the youths harassing a girl on February 21 but the authorities concerned could not identify the men and brought them to book as of now.