DHAKA, Bangladesh
Student groups in Bangladesh have called for a national strike on Tuesday after alleged police brutality during an anti-sexual harassment rally.
The Bangladesh Students Union called the strike after police reportedly used baton charges, water cannon and tear gas to break up a march on the police commissioner's office in the capital Dhaka on Sunday.
The protesters were demanding an investigation into the public sexual harassment of women on the campus of the University of Dhaka during celebrations for the Bengali New Year, known as Pohela Boishak, in April.
"We organized our movement against the sexual harassment which happened on Pohela Boishak," Hasan Tarec, the union's president told Anadolu Agency. "We were attacked and many were injured, 34 of our comrades were injured and five were arrested. We have continued our movement and we have a 6-point list of demands and want to achieve the demands from our university and government."
The student group has continued its calls for an investigation in recent weeks after police, claiming they lacked sufficient evidence, did not pursue the alleged harassers, who are thought to be linked to the student wings of mainstream political parties.
Apart from making arrests, Tarec called on police officers who did not stop the assaults to be investigated and demanded a national policy for tackling sexual harassment.
Local daily Dhaka Tribune reported on Monday that a police officer had been suspended for his "misbehavior" during the protest.
