Shawdesh Desk:

People from all walks of life continued massive demonstrations in different parts of the country against the recent incidents of rape, sexual harassment and other forms of violence against women.

The protesters demanded immediate arrest of and the highest punishment for those involved in the sexual violence against women.

Demonstrations against the recent incidents of rape were staged in Dhaka, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Satkhira and Chuadanga on Tuesday.

The gang rape of a housewife at Sylhet MC College and the molestation of another housewife in Noakhali sparked widespread public outrage.

People believe that such heinous and barbaric acts are taking place one after another as most culprits go unpunished. In most cases, offenders got off scot-free, prompting others to commit such crimes.

Experts said rapists are rapists. They don’t have any other identities. They should be punished… .

As per law of Bangladesh, a rapist gets life in jail as maximum punishment for rape.

But in many other countries, a rape convict is given highest punishment (death penalty).

In Saudi Arabia, a rape convict is sedated and beheaded in public while Iran executes death penalty.

In China, a rape convict is given death penalty which is executed on a firing squad.

In the UAE, a rape convict is given death penalty. He is hanged to death. In Afghanistan a rapist is either hanged to death or shot dead in the head.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal on Tuesday said a stern action will be taken soon against the culprits involved in sexually harassing a woman in Noakhali.

“The criminals will face a legal action soon,” he said while talking to reporters at the Secretariat.

Describing the incident as a heinous act, the minister said, “We’ve swung into action as soon as we received complaints. Almost all the culprits have already been arrested.”

The minister said all the culprits involved in the rape incident at MC College in Sylhet have been arrested.

Investigation reports on the Noakhali and MC College rape cases will be submitted so that the accused get the highest punishment, said Asaduzzaman.

Protesting against the rape incidents, a cross section of people, including students, staged demonstrations in different parts of the country, demanding severe punishment for rapists.

In the capital, people joined a mass protest against the molestation of a housewife in Noakhali that went viral on social media, triggering public outcry.

Under the banner of “Bangladesh for Anti-Rapists”, nearly one hundred protesters, mainly leaders and activists of left student organisations, including Chhatra Union and Socialist Student Front, thronged Shahbagh intersection.

They were carrying posters, chanting slogans for exemplary punishment for the rapists.

Five people were injured as police intercepted a protest rally moving towards the Prime Minister’s Office from Shahbagh intersection, and charged baton on the protesters.

Sadia Imrose Ila, member of Bangladesh Students Union’s Kalabagan unit, said five members of the student organization were hurt in the baton charge. They were being taken to hospital.

Earlier on Tuesday morning, hundreds of protesters blocked Shahbagh intersection, protesting at the torture and attempted rape of a housewife in Noakhali.

Wearing black badges and carrying posters, the protesters chanted various slogans against the growing violence against women.

Demonstrators also demanded capital punishment for the culprits and resignation of the government officials concerned for their failure to stop the incidents of rape and oppression against women.

Protest flared across the country after a video of the rape incident went viral on social media.

A total of six persons, including an UP member, have so far been arrested in connection with the incident.

In Rajshahi, students staged demonstrations, blocking roads in the city in protest against the rape incidents. They also demanded punishment for the rapists.

A group of students gathered Sahebbazar area around 11am and formed a human chain.

Later, they put barricade on the busy road for some time. General people also took part in the protest programme.

The protesters demanded speedy trial of rape cases and the highest punishment for the rapists.

In Sylhet, students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) formed a human chain in front of its main gate around 11am.

The students also demanded the highest punishment for the rapists.

In Chuadanga, general people, including students, teachers, journalists and civil-society members, formed a human chain in front of Shaheed Minar of Chuadanga Government College in the morning in protest against the rising incidents of rape.

In Satkhira, a human chain was formed at Shaheed Alauddin Chattar in the district town around 10:30am, demanding punishment for the rapists.

Professor Md Anisur Rahman, convener of Zila Nagorik Committee, presided over the human-chain programme and the protest rally.

Protest programmes were also held in Shyamnagar and Kaliganj upazila.

Alongside protests on the streets, people, especially women, have resorted to digital protests to raise their voices against sexual assault, harassment and torture of women, reports UNB.

Many FB female users have blackened out their profiles as part of the protest, and have posted similar black images on Facebook condemning the incidents of violence against women.

Some male FB users also joined the protest programme.

Besides, star cricketers Shakib Al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim have raised his voice, seeking an end to the recent incidents of violence against women.