Students protest at Shahbagh demanding maximum punishment for rapists

Students have gathered at the National Museum in Shahbagh, Dhaka to demand the death penalty for rapists and call for an end to sexual violence in the country. 

The protest, held on the morning of Tuesday, March 11, started at around 11:30 AM. 

Students from various educational institutions across Dhaka participated, voicing their anger over the increasing number of rape cases in the nation. 

This protest was reported by Prothom Alo.

The students chanted several slogans throughout the event, including 

"We want justice," "Death penalty for rapists," "The student community is awake," and "No place for rapists in my golden Bengal."

This protest has been titled the "Morning-Evening Sit-in Protest" and is organized by students from colleges across the country. 

The purpose of this protest is to demand justice and the maximum penalty for those responsible for sexual violence. 

The students expressed their frustration over the alarming increase in rape cases across the country.

The protestors have put forward six key demands that they want the government to address:

1. Public Execution of Rapists: The students are calling for rapists to be punished publicly, as they believe this will set an example and create a deterrent in society.
2. Zero Tolerance Policy Against Rape: They urge the authorities to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to rape. If necessary, they suggest creating separate tribunals to handle rape cases swiftly.
3. Speedy Justice: The protestors demand that the justice process be expedited. If a rape occurs, they want the authorities to arrest the rapist within 24 hours, prepare the medical report, and ensure that the testimonies of the victim and witnesses are recorded. Within 15 working days, the rapist should be sentenced to death based on concrete evidence. Any discrepancies in the process would not be acceptable. The students also suggest increasing the number of laboratories for faster examination.
4. Ban on Arbitration in Rape Cases: The students call for a ban on arbitration or out-of-court settlements for rape cases. They want the state to guarantee justice in these cases and demand that any public official who helps the accused in an unethical way should be dismissed from their job after investigation.
5. Punishment for Minor Offenders: Even if the perpetrator is underage, the students insist on ensuring punishment. They suggest life imprisonment for minor offenders involved in rape.
6. Fast-tracking Ongoing Cases: Finally, the students demand the swift completion of ongoing rape cases. They propose the formation of a separate tribunal to complete the trial within 30 working days, and they want the Ministry of Law and the Ministry of Home Affairs to be held accountable for ensuring this.

With their strong voices and powerful demands, these students are urging the government to take immediate action to prevent further violence and to ensure justice for rape victims.