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Countrywide protests against rape and all other forms of violence against women and children continued for the eighth day running on Friday demanding that capital punishment must be made sure for rapists and safety must be ensured for women and children.

Different political parties, rights and student bodies formed human chains, brought out processions and held rallies demanding justice for rape and eventual death of the eight-year-old girl in Magura. 

On Friday on the Dhaka University campus, leaders and activists of the Student Federation of Bangladesh formed a human chain at the base of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture in the afternoon, following which they held a ‘shroud procession’ wearing shrouds, while marching through the campus roads ending again the Raju Memorial.

The organisation’s central general secretary Saikat Arif demanded withdrawal of the ‘false and fabricated cases filed against protesters’ over the Tuesday’s clash between the police and rape protesters in front of the InterContinental hotel while they marched towards the chief adviser’s official residence Jamuna.

Some named in the case, including the organisation’s DU unit convener Armanul Haque and journalist Hasan Sikder, were false named, Saikat alleged, adding that Armanul was in Dinajpur at the time of the incident, while Hasan Sikder was covering the news. 

Demanding exemplary punishment for the rapists of the Magura girl who died on Thursday, Saikat also demanded the home adviser’s removal, alleging that he had miserably failed to keep law and order under control.

The Bangladesh Judicial Service Association in a statement on Friday said that although the government enacted the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act, 2000 to ensure swift trial of the crimes of violence and torture against women and children, the aim and goal of the act remained unrealised till now. 

Bangladesh Mahila Parishad on Friday morning staged a silent procession at the death of the Magura child.

Protesters marched from the National Press Club to Central Shaheed Minar at about 11:00am, chanting slogan ‘We are outraged, saddened and we protest’.

Demanding justice for Magura rape victim, Mahila Parishad president Fouzia Moslem said that change must come in delayed trial of rape cases.

Perpetrators must be brought to justice, facing sternest punishment, she stated, also demanding proper rehabilitation of rape survivors.

Mahila Parishad general secretary Maleka Banu also spoke, among others, at the protest.

Widespread protests sparked after the eight-year-old child was raped and sustained fatal injuries on March 6 at her sister’s in-laws’ home in Magura.

The child died at about 1:00pm on Thursday while undergoing treatment at the Combined Military Hospital in Dhaka.

A Magura court at midnight past March 10 placed the main accused in the rape case, Hitu Sheikh, 50, father-in-law of the victim’s elder sister, on a seven-day remand. The court also placed three other accused in the case, Hitu’s wife Zayeda Khatun, and their two sons, Sajib Sheikh and Ratul Sheikh of village Nijnanduali in Magura Sadar upazila, on a five-day remand.

On Thursday, meanwhile, an angry mob set fire to the rape accused’s house in Magura town at about 8:00pm, hours after the child’s body was returned to the district from Dhaka.

¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· correspondent in Magura reported that on Friday the mob again attacked the already burnt house, felled trees belonging to the family and looted bricks and other materials.

Magura sadar police officer-in-charge Md Ayub Ali said that the remand continued for the third day.

He said that he heard that the house of the accused was burnt and looted. ‘We will take necessary action,’ he added.

The first namaz-e-janaza was held at the playground of Magura town after maghrib prayers after which she had her second namaz-e-janaza at Jajira village under Sreepur upazila. She was buried at Sonaikundi village. 

While talking to reporters after meeting with the child’s parents at Sreepur upazila on Friday, Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Mahila Dal president Afroza Abbas demanded holding of the trial of the accused in public and within seven days since all the information and proof of the rape case were already in hand.

The Communist Party of Bangladesh’s Dhaka north city unit organised a rally at Paltan crossing on the day and brought out a protest procession against the unabated violence against women and children.

The speakers at the rally condemned provocative statements and speeches often propagated by different corners, blaming the government for its failure to contain mob violence, said a press release. 

Addressing the rally, CPB general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince said that the death of the Magura rape victim brought sheer shame to the nation.

Such a crime shouldn’t have happened in the post-July uprising Bangladesh that saw so much blood sacrifice, he stated. 

‘The continuous murder, rape, anarchy and extremism across the country showed that the interim government had failed to run the country,’ said Ruhin, urging the government to hold general elections at the earliest following minimum reforms.

At an event held at the Crime Reporters Association of Bangladesh, Human Rights Congress for Bangladeshi Minorities urged the government to ensure justice for rape victims through speedy trial. 

In Rajshahi city, leaders and activists of Tarique Zia Parishad formed a human chain at Saheb Bazar Zero Point, demanding speedy trial for the Magura rape victim, ¶¶Òõ¾«Æ· staff correspondent in Rajshahi reported.

In Barishal, Samajtantrik Mahila Forum Barishal unit also held protest rally and procession, condemning the rape and death of the Magura child, said a press release.