Chhatra League gives 48 hour ultimatum for arrest of rapists

Leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) have demanded the immediate arrest of culprits who raped several women across the country in recent days.

They also announced a 48 hour ultimatum for the arrest of such rapists, at a protest program arranged by Chhatra League’s Dhaka University unit on Sunday.

Addressing the protest, DU unit Chhatra League President Sonjit Chandra Das declared patrons of these culprits persona-non-grata on the Dhaka University campus.

He said: “Those who raped the DU student recently – leaders of Bangladesh Students’ Rights Council (BSRC) which spearheaded the quota reformation movement in 2018 – have to be arrested within the next 48 hours. Otherwise, Bangladesh Chhatra League will launch a countrywide movement.”  

Echoing the same, General Secretary of DU Chhatra League, Md Saddam Hossain, termed the DU rape victim “a symbol of bravery,” for protesting against the heinous crimes committed by her fellow leaders of BSRC.

Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League at a protest on Sunday, September 27,2020 | Dhaka Tribune

“We want the immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the recent rape incidents. We demand justice for the victims.”

Chhatra League Central Committee President Al-Nahean Khan Joy said: “Those who are rapists are of no party and Chhatra League has always stood against them. We will not take responsibility for any rapist.”

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Lekhak Bhattacharjee, central general secretary of the ruling party’s student wing, said that their organization is always against rape. 

He said, the top leaders of BSRC raped one of their own and “by doing so, the organization has raped Dhaka University.”

He demanded the immediate arrest and punishment of those responsible for the recent rape incidents.

Meanwhile, former Ducsu member and Chhatra League leader, Tanbir Hasan Shaikot, formed a separate human chain in front of the National Museum in Shahbag, Dhaka, demanding the formation of a speedy tribunal to punish rapists and also expressed solidarity with the Chhatra League rally.

Bangladesh Chhatra League, student wing of the ruling Awami League, demanded ensuring capital punishment of the rapists in Sylhet’s MC College incident, Savar, Khagrachari, and a DU student, who filed cases against former Ducsu VP, Nur, and several others.

Chhatra League leaders and activists of different units were present during the protest.