Long march against rape begins

Hundreds of demonstrators have started their march from Dhaka to Noakhali protesting against the growing incidents of rape across the country and culture of impunity.

The protesters of some left-leaning parties under the banner of "Dhorshon O Bicharhinotar Biruddhe Bangladesh" (Bangladesh against rape and impunity) gathered at Shahbagh in the capital since Friday morning and chanted anti-rape slogans, reports Bangla Tribune.

They started their two-day march around 10:45am to press home their nine-point demand that include ensuring exemplary punishment of the perpetrators involved in rape and violence against women, expulsion of the home minister, and implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) charter. 

Protests against rape and violence against women flared up in the country since the beginning of October, following the recent incidents of gang rape in Sylhet's MC College and in Noakhali's Begumganj upazila.

According to the demonstrators, they will march to Gulistan on foot and then head towards Narayanganj by bus and hold a rally there. From Narayanganj, they will start for Comilla and Feni.

On Saturday, the marchers will hold a rally in Maizdi of Noakhali.

Samajtantrik Chhatra Front's Dhaka University unit Vice President Sadekul Islam Sadik said seven buses will carry 450 demonstrators from Gulistan. 

Later, five more buses will be added from Narayanganj, he added.

Bangladesh Chhatra Union former general secretary Liton Nandi said police should not obstruct their march, but a student organization may interfere.