Speakers, including academics, rights activists, labour leaders and cultural activists on Saturday demanded the government take effective steps to ensure security of women and children, trial for rape and withdrawal of a case filed against left student leaders.
They raised the demands at a rally, organised under the banner of 鈥榮tudent-people rally鈥�, in front of the Bangladesh National Museum at Shahbagh in the capital to press home a four-point demand.
The demands included removal of home adviser retired lieutenant general Jahangir Alam Chowdhury for his failure to ensure people鈥檚 security and immediate investigation into and trial for July massacre.
The demands also included withdrawal of the expulsion order against nine female students of Chattogram University and abolition of the Cyber Security Act 2023 to ensure freedom of expression.
Addressing the rally, Ganatantrik Adhikar Committee member and former Jahangirnagar University professor Anu Muhammad criticised the interim government for not working to abolish discrimination.
鈥楻ape and violence against women have reached such a stage that a female of any age feels insecure now,鈥� said Anu Muhammad.
He stated that the government was not taking strong actions against the force that was unleashing discrimination, but rather showing negative attitude towards logical movements of students, labours and national minorities.
Dhaka University teacher Moshahida Sultana demanded trial in recent and previous rape cases, including the rape and murder of Sohagi Jahan Tonu and Mosarat Jahan Munia.
Moshahida demanded immediate withdrawal of the expulsion order against nine female students of Chattogram University for standing against mob violence and withdrawal of a recent police case filed against 12 left student leaders for demonstrating against recent surge in rape and violence against women.
Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi general secretary Jamshed Anwer Tapan chaired the rally, where labour leader Shamim Imam and Bangladesh Narimukti Kendra president Shima Datta spoke.
Cultural activists performed street plays and songs at the rally expressing solidarity with the demands.
