Amid a recent rise in rape, robbery, mugging, and murder across the country, students from various educational institutions staged human chains, protests, demonstrations, and road blockades in the capital and nationwide on Sunday.
Students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Eden Mohila College, Government Titumir College, several private universities, and institutions outside Dhaka held demonstrations.
In the capital, students protested in the Asad Gate and Jigatola areas, among other places.
After 10am, students from various institutions blocked roads and marched in the Asad Gate area, causing traffic congestion and halting vehicle movement.
Protesters, including students and the general public, blocked one side of the road at Asad Gate, demanding an end to ongoing rapes and ensuring security.
They cleared the road around 2pm after police assured them of the swift arrest of rapists.
Another group of students staged a protest march in Jigatola around 1pm with placards, marching from Jigatola to City College and back.
A group of Dhaka University (DU) students held a protest rally at the base of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at 4pm under the banner of "Conscious Students of Dhaka University," condemning the rise in crimes like mugging, attacks, extortion, and rape.
Eden Mohila College students held a protest rally on the Bakultala premises of their college in the morning, demanding an end to rape and violence against women and children and ensuring security for all. The students were seen chanting various slogans.
During the rally, speakers said they want a new Bangladesh where no one will be a victim of rape.
They added that they want brothers and sisters to unite, protest on the streets, and build the nation together.
Brac University students staged a protest demanding security. Some students held a demonstration in front of the university’s main gate in Badda in the morning.
Government Titumir College students also staged a protest rally in front of the college gate at noon, voicing similar demands.
Jahangirnagar University students held a protest march condemning rape, mugging, and terrorism nationwide. Around noon, they marched from the university’s Shaheed Minar premises, covering several roads before concluding with a brief rally.
History department student Nibir Bhuiyan delivered the concluding speech, demanding the trial of rape accused within 48 hours through a tribunal.
He stated: "There is no safe movement anywhere in Dhaka or across Bangladesh. It feels like everything could be snatched at any moment. Immediate security must be ensured for every woman and individual, and rape accused must be arrested and tried in a tribunal within 48 hours. If the home adviser fails to ensure law and order, we declare from Jahangirnagar that we will not hesitate to pull him down from his position."
Speakers at the rally demanded the tribunal-based trial of rape accused within 48 hours and called for urgent measures to restore law and order nationwide, tackling mugging and terrorist activities.
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) students held a protest rally and torch march at 5pm, at the university’s Freedom Square, condemning rape and violence against women.
Students of Brojomohun (BM) College in Barisal staged a protest in the afternoon at BM College Zero Point, organized by the campus student union, demanding urgent government action to ensure public safety.
General students of Comilla University (CoU) also staged a protest rally on campus condemning rape, mugging, and lawlessness nationwide. They gathered at the university’s central square, chanting slogans.
In Rangpur, students blocked the Town Hall Gate road, protesting against rape and demanding punishment for the perpetrators. Hundreds of students from various educational institutions participated in the protest on Sunday afternoon.
Additionally, students from private universities, including University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB), Independent University Bangladesh (IUB), United International University (UIU), East West University, Bangladesh University, Northern University, Green University, and Daffodil International University, held human chains and protest rallies against the ongoing unrest and lawlessness in the country.
