Students, police scuffle as march to PMO obsructed

Scuffles broke out in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday noon after police stopped a procession aiming to reach the prime minister's office to submit a memorandum with four demands including holding sexual assault trials at speedy trial tribunals.

Some time later, five activists of Jouno Nipiron Birodhi Nirdolio Chhatra Jote, a students' alliance against sexual harassment, led by the convener, Shibli, were allowed to go ahead.

The other demands include keeping capital punishment as the only penalty for rape, forming a cell under the home ministry to take up responsibility of victims and providing it logistical support.Some 20-30 activists of the jote first organised a rally at the base of Shontrash Birodhi Raju Sharok Bhaskorjo and then brought out the procession, going on to stage a sit-in after facing the barricade, comprising some 200 armed personnel.