Mir Afroz Zaman

Violence, rape and torture cases against women are increasing at an alarming rate across Bangladesh, as they did during the BNP-Jamaat coalition government. There is no end in sight to the incidents. The movement continues in Shahbagh demanding the maximum punishment for the culprits in all these cases. Students from 30 colleges in the capital have been subjected to police harassment while submitting a memorandum to Yunus' office as part of the movement.

On Tuesday (March 11), the students took a position in front of the Shahbagh National Museum with small processions from 11:30 am. The students present said that we had announced the Shahbagh blockade to protest against the oppression of women. But this program was withdrawn considering the suffering of the people during Ramadan. However, instead of the blockade program, a sit-in program will be held on the empty road next to the Shahbagh National Museum.

The students have named this program, 'Morning-Evening Sit-in Program'. The organizers say that this program is an initiative of all colleges to protest the alarming increase in rapes across the country and to demand that the maximum punishment for the culprits be death penalty.

The students' six-point demands are:

1. Ensure the punishment of the rapist in public. If the punishment of the rapist is confirmed publicly, an example can be set in the society.
2. The administration must follow a complete 'zero tolerance' policy against rape. If necessary, a separate tribunal can be formed to try the rapists.
3. The trial process must be completed quickly. If a rape incident occurs anywhere, it must be ensured that the rapist is arrested within 24 hours, a medical report must be prepared, and the testimony of the victim and witnesses must be recorded. The rapist must be hanged within the next 15 working days based on proper evidence. If there is any discrepancy in any of these processes, it will not be acceptable. The number of laboratories for testing must be increased to settle the trial quickly.
4. Arbitration must be banned in rape cases. Only the state will ensure justice. In addition, if the accused arrested on charges of rape is released with the help of someone from the administration through immoral means, he should be dismissed from his job according to the investigation. Even if the person involved in the rape is a minor, punishment should be ensured. In this case, life imprisonment can be provided.

5. The trial of the ongoing cases should be completed quickly. If necessary, a separate tribunal should be formed and the trial should be completed within 30 working days.

6. The Law and Home Ministries should be held accountable in this regard.
Meanwhile, the court has ordered the seizure of the land, houses and flats in the names of Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, daughter Saima Wazed Putul, Sheikh Hasina's sister Sheikh Rehana, her son Radwan Mujib Siddique and daughter Tulip Rizwana Siddique.

On Tuesday, the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Zakir Hossain Galib issued this order in response to the ACC's application. ACC Public Relations Officer Akhtarul Islam informed Samakal about this.

The assets ordered to be seized include a flat in Gulshan in the name of Tulip Siddique, whose deed value is Tk 43 lakh 24 thousand 920. A house with 16 kathas of land in Dhanmondi in the name of Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Saima Wazed Putul, whose deed value is Tk 3 crore 30 lakh. Rehana Siddique's assets include 8.5 percent land in Kaliakoir, Gazipur worth Tk 8 lakh 75 thousand 500, 1.55 percent land in the same place worth Tk 3 lakh and a flat in Segunbagicha worth Tk 18 lakh. In addition, six flats in Gulshan in the name of Rehana's son Radwan Mujib Siddique have been ordered to be seized.

According to ACC information, the court has ordered the freezing of six Awami League and 17 bank accounts of Sheikh Hasina.
Apart from this, the court has ordered the freezing of five bank accounts of Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

Besides , the court has ordered to freeze several bank accounts of Sheikh Rehana, Saima Wazed, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Trust, Central for Research and Information (CRI), Shuchona Foundation, Bangabandhu Smriti Jadughar, Abu Siddique Memorial Trust, Shahin Siddique, Bushra Siddique. On Tuesday, ACC Deputy Director Md. Monirul Islam applied for the seizure of these properties.

On the other hand, workers of BHIS Apparels Limited are protesting by blocking the highway in Tongi, near Dhaka, demanding arrear salaries. This has caused severe traffic congestion in the area. Commuters are suffering.

The workers started the protest by blocking both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Tongi's Hossain Market area from 7 am on Tuesday.

It was learned from talking to the workers that about 1,300 workers work in the BHIS Apparels Limited factory. They were supposed to be paid their February arrears on Monday. But in the afternoon, the owners secretly left the factory without taking any decision. After that, the workers also returned home.

When the workers came to work on Tuesday morning, they saw a notice written 'factory closed indefinitely' at the main gate of the factory. They were angry and blocked both sides of the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway and started a protest.

Worker Masud said, Eid is in a few days. Now, declaring the factory closed by withholding salaries and allowances means destroying our lives. We are lost, we don't understand how we will pay the rent of the house, pay the remaining balance of the shop. We want justice and help from the countrymen.

Worker Sharmin Akhter said, 'We waited for our salaries in the factory for a long time.