Widespread protests on Tuesday erupted at different universities, social media and other online media platforms over the alleged ‘gang rape’ threat to a female candidate in Dhaka University student union elections.
BM Fahmida Alam received the alleged threat after she had filed a writ in the High Court, challenging the candidacy of a fellow student, SM Farhad, competing for the general secretary post in the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union elections from the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir panel.
Student bodies, university teachers, contesting DUCSU elections panels, political organisations in separate demonstrations, press briefings and statements fiercely condemned the threat by Ali Husen, a resident of the university’s Shahid Sergeant Zahurul Huq Hall, demanding his stern legal and academic punishment.
Following the threat post, fellow panelists of Fahmida, who is contesting the election from Aparajeyo 71 - Adammya 24, the panel representing three left student organisations, said that Fahmida was feeling insecure.
The DUCSU Election Commission and the university’s proctorial body have also formed two separate committees to investigate the allegations.
The protests erupted immediately after a post in Bangla appeared on Ali Husen’s Facebook profile accompanying Fahmida’s photo on Monday afternoon.
‘Instead of protesting against the High Court now, a march should be held first to gang rape her,’ read the post.
In response to BM Fahmida Alam’s writ petition, the High Court on Monday afternoon stayed the DUCSU elections, prompting protests on the campus.
After half an hour, however, the Appellate Division cleared the way for holding the elections.
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court is scheduled to hold a hearing today on the petition, as per Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha reports.
Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, backed by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, on Tuesday held pre-announced processions, rallies, human chains, sit-ins at different public universities, protesting at the rape threat to Fahmida and also protested at the alleged harassment of Chhatra Dal female leaders at Rajshahi University and the continued cyber-bullying against female students by Shibir activists.
At Dhaka University, Chhatra Dal brought out a procession and held an hour-long sit-in in front the university’s administrative building on Tuesday afternoon demanding exemplary punishment for Ali Husen, who removed the post from his profile and apologised in a video post on Monday night.
DUCSU election vice-president candidate from the Chhatra Dal panel Abidul Islam Khan castigated the university administration, saying that Ali Husen was emboldened because the authorities had abjectly failed to book the cyber-bully perpetrators in the past.
Besides demanding Ali Husen’s stern punishment, the Aparajeyo 71 - Adammya 24 panel at a press briefing on the campus said that its panel candidate Fahmida Alam felt deeply unsafe after the threat.
‘If the authorities fail to take legal action, we will take legal action against that student (Ali Husen),’ said the panel’s assistant general secretary candidate Adite Islam on the eighth day of the DUCSU campaign.
The University Teachers’ Network, a platform of different university teachers, holds a press conference with 13-point concerns and demands, including DU student Ali Husen’s exemplary punishment for his alleged rape threat to a female candidate in the Dhaka University Students’ Union elections, at the DU on Tuesday. — ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· photo
University Teachers’ Network, a platform of teachers from different universities, at a press conference on the day raised a 13-point concern and demand regarding the DUCSU election, including Ali Husen’s exemplary punishment.
Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad-led panel Baishamyabirodhi Shikkharthi Sangsad accused Shibir of running clandestine politics and denying involvement when someone from them was found guilty.
Sada Dal, a pro-BNP platform of DU teachers, in a statement expressed condemned the rape threat, demanding immediate action, reported DU correspondent.
Meanwhile, Dhaka metropolitan unit of Shibir brought out a procession from the National Press Club that marched up to Shahbagh in the capital, protesting at the alleged false allegations against the organisation.        Â
Shibir panel’s vice-president candidate Abu Shadik Kayem at the rally claimed that different groups were falsely accusing Shibir and also claimed that Ali Husen was connected with Chhatra Dal.
He also alleged that a section was hatching conspiracy to foil DUCSU elections, scheduled for September 9.Â
Calling Ali Husen a potential rapist, Samajtantrik Mahila Forum president Shampa Basu and general secretary Dilruba Nuri in a joint statement demanded his stern punishment.
Jagannath University unit Chhatra Dal also staged a protest rally and sit-in on the JnU campus, condemning Ali Husen’s rape threat and his stern punishment, reported JnU correspondent.
Besides, Chhatra Dal units in universities in Sherpur, Gopalganj, Mymensingh, Sylhet, Cumilla and other districts also staged demonstrations upholding the organisation’s same demands.
Chhatra Dal female leaders and activists will form a human chain in front of the Supreme Court today, upholding their demands.
