Fresh protests erupted on Dhaka University campus and online media platforms on Monday night over an alleged ‘rape’ threat to a female student who filed a writ petition against the candidacy of a Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union elections.
Pratirodh Parshad assistant general secretary candidate Jabir Ahmad Jubel, also a student of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, in his Facebook post wrote that the accused Ali Husen, a student of the same hall, usually identified himself as a Shibir supporter.
‘We believe that the Dhaka University administration, which has repeatedly promised to establish a safe campus for women, will bring such potential rapist students under punishment in accordance with appropriate rules,’ wrote Jubel.
The accused, Ali Husen, on Monday afternoon wrote on his Facebook profile, ‘Instead of protesting against the High Court now, a march should be held first to gang rape her.’
The High Court on Monday afternoon put a stay on DUCSU elections following a candidate, BM Fahmida Alam’s, writ petition that challenged the eligibility of SM Farhad, a general secretary candidate from the Shibir panel, prompting protests on the campus.
After half an hour, the Appellate Division on that day cleared the way for holding the elections.
A section of Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall students held a press conference protesting at Ali Husen’s threat.
Students from different halls also held protest demonstrations on the campus.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Monday night announced processions and rallies in all educational institutions across the country on Tuesday protesting against the threat allegedly by a Shibir activist, harassment of Chhatra Dal female leaders at Rajshahi University, and the continued cyberbullying targeting female students across the country by Shibir leaders and activists.
The accused, Ali Husen, in a video post from his profile, apologised to everyone for his afternoon post.
Farhad, also DU unit Shibir president, at a press briefing on that night claimed that Ali Husen was not involved with Shibir.
