Students of Gopalganj’s Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) on Friday continued their protest demanding justice for the gang rape of a fellow female student.
Taking up positions before the administrative building, they also urged the authorities to hand out punishment to those who went on a rampage to foil their demonstration on Thursday, injuring dozens of students and three teachers of the university.
“We want justice for the rape as well as the attacks on us. We expect the prime minister’s intervention for our security,” said Tamirul Huq, one of the protesters.
Another protester, Raju Ahmed, said it was beyond belief that students would be attacked for seeking justice for rape.
The students said they will continue the movement until justice is ensured for the rape survivor.
The female student in question was walking with her friend in the Nabinbagh area of Gopalganj at around 9:30pm on Wednesday when a group of men whisked them away in an autorickshaw.
Later, some seven-eight persons took them to an under-construction building of Gopalganj District Administration School and College. Then they beat up her friend and raped her there.
After escaping, the duo informed their friends and the university authorities. The rape survivor was later taken to Gopalganj Sadar Hospital for treatment.
After the news spread, hundreds of BSMRSTU students went to the Sadar police station and gave them an ultimatum demanding immediate action.
At around 6am Thursday, they blockaded a part of the Dhaka-Khulna Highway in protest of the gang rape.
Police later made three arrests in the case filed over the gang rape.
Later in the day, a group of locals charged the protesters on the highway using locally-made weapons and sticks, leaving at least 30 students and three teachers, including BSMRSTU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr AQM Mahbub, injured.
Four critically injured students were hospitalized.
In the second phase, students were assaulted on the campus several times between 6pm and 7pm Thursday after locals used loudspeakers of a mosque to incite attacks. Some 25 students were beaten up mercilessly at the time.
