Dhaka University (DU) witnessed a day-long wave of protests on Sunday as students and faculty members demanded swift investigations and exemplary punishment, including public execution, for rapists amid a surge in sexual violence and abuse against women across the country. The demonstrations, marked by rallies and marches, culminated in a campus-wide boycott of academic classes and exams by students from 36 departments.

The protests began in the morning, with students gathering at key campus landmarks such as Raju Sculpture, Aparajeyo Bangla, Bot Tola, Central Library, and Curzon Hall. By evening, students from departments including Public Administration, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, English, Political Science, and International Relations had joined the boycott, vowing to continue their strike until their demands were met.

The movement gained momentum after midnight on Saturday when residents of Sufia Kamal Hall staged a protest march, demanding justice for rape victims. They were soon joined by students from other halls, with thousands gathering near Raju Sculpture, chanting slogans and calling for the harshest punishment for rapists.

In response to the growing outcry, an anti-rape platform emerged in the early hours of Sunday, issuing two immediate demands: the establishment of a fast-track tribunal for rape cases and public execution of convicted rapists. The platform also set a 24-hour ultimatum for the authorities to bring the perpetrators to justice.

As tensions escalated, DU Teachers’ Network leaders joined the protests, calling for the resignation of the Home Affairs Advisor over the government’s failure to address the rising tide of sexual violence. The campus remains on edge as students vow to intensify their movement until their demands for justice are met.