The Communist Party of Bangladesh raised a black flag at its central office in the capital yesterday, protesting a surge in rape incidents and demanding punishment to the perpetrators.

The event took place amid tensions over calls online to take over the CPB headquarters. However, nothing untoward happened as police and army personnel guarded the facility.

In the presence of police and army men, CPB leaders raised a black flag at 10:40am.

Earlier in the day, CPB leaders and activists gathered at the office to protect the building. Some had stayed overnight to ensure its safety.

Meanwhile, several left-leaning student bodies cancelled their anti-rape march, fearing chaos on Dhaka University campus.

The activists gathered near Central Shaheed Minar in the morning and were about to begin the march.

Around the same time, activists of Inquilab Mancha, an organisation formed after the fall of Sheikh Hasina regime, gathered near Shahbagh and began marching towards Shaheed Minar, but were stopped by police. 

Policemen stand guard outside the Communist Party of Bangladesh office on Topkhana Road in the capital yesterday as security measures were heightened in response to calls online to take over the party office. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Eventually both parties relented.

The leftist student organisations held a brief rally at the Shaheed Minar.

Raihan Uddin, general secretary of Bangladesh Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, demanded removal of the home adviser, justice for the July-August killings, and punishment to people who attacked mosques, temples, and shrines.

Mahir Shahriar Reza, president of a faction of Chhatra Union, said, "Although we gathered here for a pre-announced programme, we decided to call it off considering the law and order situation …. We faced threats, attacks, and abductions in the last 16 years. We are not afraid of threats. We cancelled our event because many of the groups that collaborated with the Awami League are now trying to deteriorate the law and order situation."

On the other hand, Sharif Osman Bin Hadi, convener of Inquilab Mancha, said, "It is evident that the [other] gathering is part of a conspiracy."

Abdullah Al Jaber, member secretary of Inquilab Mancha, said, "Those who gathered at the Shaheed Minar today had not done so in the last 16 years."

In the name of demonstrations against rape, they intend to undermine Bangladesh's image at a time when the UN secretary-general is in town, he told The Daily Star.