Students of BRAC University staged a demonstration on their campus today, demanding urgent government action to address the alarming rise in crimes, including rape, mugging, and robbery, across the country.

The protest, which began at 11:30am in front of the university's main gate, was organised in response to what students described as a severe deterioration of law and order and a failure of the administration to ensure public safety.

The demonstrators presented a 13-point demand, calling for stricter enforcement of laws, the establishment of special tribunals for rape cases, increased police presence on streets, and enhanced victim protection measures.

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Protest on Mirpur Road demanding death for rapists

Among their key demands were the implementation of capital punishment for convicted rapists, the formation of a confidential investigation system for victims reluctant to report crimes, and government-funded psychological rehabilitation services for survivors of sexual violence.

Photo: Collected

Additionally, they urged the authorities to deploy armed patrol teams in high-crime areas, ensure police stations are fully staffed, and install CCTV surveillance nationwide.

The students also demanded that the home affairs adviser "resign", citing the administration's failure to curb rising crime rates.

Samiha Chowdhury, a student of the Department of English and Humanities, said, "The way rape cases are rising across the country, we are now afraid to step out of our homes. Even going to university feels unsafe. We want the government to take immediate action."

The demonstration continued until 3:00pm.

Earlier around 11:00am, a group of people, including students, staged demonstration took to the streets near Asad Gate on Mirpur Road protesting the surge in rape incidents across the country.

Vehicular movement was disrupted on one side of the road for three hours following the protest.

They were seen holding posters read "is the administration an audience only?", and "break the silence, punish the rapists".

While talking to The Daily Star's photojournalist, one of the protesters, Nur Mohammad, said that they demand death penalty for the rapists.