Chhatra Union rejects probe report on sexual assaults at DU

Bangladesh Chhatra Union activists yesterday rejected the probe report which stated that none of the culprits, who sexually assaulted women during last year's Pahela Baishakh celebration, could be identified or arrested.

Detectives submitted the final report before a Dhaka Court on December 24, about eight months after the assaults took place.

Chhatra Union activists were the first ones to resist the sexual assaults on 20 women on Dhaka University campus for over an hour on April 14 evening. Chhatra Union leader Liton Nandi and some of his friends were injured while scuffling with the assaulters.

At a rally held before the National Museum in the capital yesterday, the Chhatra Union activists urged police to undertake a fresh investigation bringing the culprits to book.

"A number of policemen were standing nearby when the assaults took place, but they did not do anything to stop it. Moreover, one officer released two of the culprits who were caught and handed over to him by our activists," said Lucky Akhter, BCU president.

Prof Gitiara Nasreen of DU's Mass Communication and Journalism department said the probe report is an attempt to relegate the issue into oblivion.