Authorities at Dhaka University have established a three-member committee in response to claims of harassment and assault of two women by university students. The incident occurred near the Raju Sculpture at the Teacher-Student Centre on the campus. The committee was formed after written complaints were lodged by the two men accompanying the women.
Video footage circulating on social media depicted one of the accused students armed with a bamboo stick, attempting to kick one of the women, while the women alleged physical assault. The women expressed feeling unsafe and claimed they were attacked by university boys, stating that their attire was used to label them as prostitutes.
In the footage, one woman mentioned being slapped by a rider and accused of being a prostitute, questioning the behavior of the Dhaka University students. The accused students have been identified as Shahriar Islam Tushar and Rakib Ahmed Sohan, students of the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies and the Department of World Religions and Culture, respectively.
Proctor Saifuddin mentioned that CCTV footage of the incident had been obtained, identifying four Dhaka University students at the scene. However, a preliminary review did not show clear evidence of the women being physically assaulted with sticks. The incident has raised concerns amidst escalating violence against women and children in Bangladesh.
