Demo demands justice for RU rape victim

Students demonstrated at Rajshahi University today demanding exemplary punishment for those accused in a rape case filed by one of their fellows.

They stated six demands after forming a human chain in front of the central library around 12:45pm.

The demands include expulsion of the prime accused who is a RU student, formation of a sexual harassment prevention cell, women-friendly campus, and restricted entry for outsiders.

The demonstrators brought out a procession and walked through key streets of the campus, our RU correspondent reports.

On January 27, a student of RU started a case against six people for raping and blackmailing her. The main accused Mahfuzur Rahman Sharod (22) is a second-year student of economics at the university.

He, along with his accomplices – Rafsan and Plabon – were arrested on the same day. Two accused – Jibon and Joy – were picked up from the city's Kazla area on February 7. The other accused Bishal was on the run, said police.

According to the case statement, on January 24, Sharod took the victim to a mess where Plabon lived and raped her there. His accomplices filmed the incident and later all of them blackmailed the victim with the video clip and demanded Tk 50,000 from her.

The girl later informed her parents about the matter and filed the case.