A coalition of leftist student organizations staged a torch procession demanding justice for the continuous incidents of rape across the country, the removal of the home affairs adviser, and justice for the rape and murder of the eight-year-old child in Magura.
The torch procession began at 7pm on Thursday from the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University.
It marched through Nilkhet and the dormitory areas before concluding at TSC.
During the procession, protesters chanted slogans such as "We demand struggle, we must fight to survive," "Stop killings, rapes, and harassment—rise up, Bangladesh," "The failed home affairs adviser must be removed," "Where there is murder and rape, there will be resistance," among others.
Before the procession, a brief rally was held where Fahim Ahmed Chowdhury, general secretary of the Democratic Students’ Council, said: “Today, our sister, an eight-year-old child, has died after falling victim to rape. We will not betray her. We will not stop until we ensure the resignation of this home affairs adviser. A home affairs adviser who cannot provide security to the people of this country has no reason to remain in office.”
He further said: “When we attempted to submit a memorandum demanding justice for rape cases to the home affairs adviser, the police attacked us. Cases were also filed against us. This police force cannot ensure the safety of the people; it cannot protect our sisters. However, it is very precise when it comes to attacking and suppressing movements. Those who mourn over torn police vests are no different from those who cry holding the metro rail pillars built by Sheikh Hasina. They all have one name—collaborators.
"Anyone who refuses to point fingers at this government or speak against rape is nothing but a collaborator. Every breath they take is a collaborator’s breath.”
Prior to the torch procession, the protesters observed a one-minute silence in memory of the eight-year-old child rape victim from Magura.
