DU teachers, students demand speedy trial for rapist

Teachers and students of Dhaka University today demanded speedy trial and capital punishment for the person who raped and tortured a second-year student of the university in Dhaka’s Kurmitola on Sunday night.

Members of Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) formed a human chain at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla on the campus around 11:00am protesting the incident, reports our photojournalist from the spot.

Addressing the demonstrators, DUTA President Prof ASM Maksud Kamal said they want speedy trial and exemplary punishment of the rapist so that no one dares to commit such crime.

He also urged all the teachers to stay alert against any type of violence and anarchy and contribute to build a healthy society in the country.

Dhaka University students demand speedy trial of the rape case while staging a demonstration in front of the Raju Sculpture at the campus on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Photo: Prabir Das

Meanwhile, the DU students of 2015-16 academic session staged a demonstration in front of the Raju Sculpture on the campus around noon, the staff photographer said.

They also demanded speedy trial in the rape case and exemplary punishment for the accused.

Since the incident took place on January 5 night, the students in their hundreds and irrespective of their political affiliations have been continuing their demonstration.

On January 6, they gave the authorities a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest the rapist. Otherwise, they warned they would wage a tough movement.

RAPIST IDENTIFIED BY RAPE VICTIM

Law enforcers have already arrested the rapist and after seeing his picture, the rape victim identified him also, Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) sources said.

Students of the Dhaka University's history department protest the rape incident at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture on Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Photo: Prabir Das

A second-year student of Dhaka University was raped and tortured in the capital’s Kurmitola area on the night of January 5. She was walking from Kurmitola bus stop to a friend’s house in a nearby area around 7:30pm on that night.

Soon after getting down from the university bus, someone grabbed her from behind, gagged her and took her to an isolated place nearby. She was raped and tortured there, they said, quoting the victim.

The victim, in her statement to a law enforcement agency, described the rapist as aged between 25 and 30; height around five and a half feet; tan complexion; short hair; and clad in an old pair of jeans and a dirty black jacket.