Students Clash with Police During Anti-Rape Protests in Dhaka

The clash occurred around 3:20 pm, near Hotel InterContinental, as protesters moved towards the residence of Chief Adviser Prof. Mohammed Yunus. Witnesses reported that scuffles broke out between the police and demonstrators, leading law enforcement to use batons to disperse the crowd. The police action forced the protesters to retreat from the streets temporarily.

A five-member delegation was later granted permission to proceed to the chief adviser’s residence to submit their nine-point memorandum. Among the key demands were the imposition of the death penalty for perpetrators of rape and violence against women, as well as the establishment of a special tribunal for the swift trial of crimes against women and children.

The protesters also called for the resignation of Home Affairs Adviser Lt. Gen. (Retd.) Jahangir Alam, criticizing his failure to maintain law and order in the country.

Earlier that day, students from over 30 colleges across Dhaka gathered at Shahbagh intersection, rallying for justice and urging stronger legal actions against rapists. They organized small processions, culminating in a demonstration in front of the National Museum. Most of the protesters were higher secondary students, who chanted slogans such as: “Justice, justice, we want justice,” “Death penalty, death penalty, we demand the death penalty for rapists,” and “In our golden Bengal, there is no place for rapists.”

Initially, the students had planned to blockade Shahbagh, but due to the potential inconvenience during Ramadan, they decided to cancel the blockade. Instead, they held a sit-in protest along the empty road next to the National Museum, vowing to continue their demonstration until the evening.