Female students from various residential halls of Dhaka University held a midnight procession on March 9, demanding the death penalty for rapists. They gave a 24-hour ultimatum for the implementation of the harshest punishment for offenders and called for the swift trial of rape cases, as well as public executions of convicted rapists, according to media reports.
The protest began around 12:30 AM, when students from Sufia Kamal Hall initiated the march, with other students from different halls joining in later. Prior to this, at 7 PM on March 8, students from Rokeya Hall organized a torch procession to demand justice for victims of violence against women and children and stricter punishments for rapists.
These demonstrations occurred alongside nationwide protests marking International Women’s Day, where people from diverse backgrounds, including students, public representatives, rights groups, and various social and political organizations, gathered to speak out against violence, oppression, and discrimination faced by women and children. The protests grew in intensity following the recent rape of an 8-year-old child in Magura and the harassment of a female student at Dhaka University, both incidents sparking widespread outrage and amplifying calls for stronger measures to ensure the safety and protection of women.
