Dhaka, March 9 (NationPress) Fueled by outrage over the brutal assault of an eight-year-old girl in Magura, citizens throughout Bangladesh took to the streets on Sunday, demanding justice and stricter measures to combat violence against women and children, according to local media sources.

The shocking incident has ignited widespread protests across various regions of the country, with students and civil society groups expressing their anger vocally.

Reports indicate that the tragic event transpired on Wednesday when the young victim was assaulted at her sister's residence in Magura. The child, who suffered severe injuries, was initially treated in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Dhaka Medical College Hospital before being moved to CMH Hospital for more advanced medical assistance, as reported by the leading Bangladeshi publication, The Daily Star.

So far, the Magura police have apprehended four suspects linked to the assault.

In response to this incident, faculty and students at Dhaka University organized a protest rally on campus earlier on Sunday. The demonstration, coordinated by the University Teachers' Network, commenced at 11:00 am at the foot of the iconic Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture, with the rally officially starting at 11:45 am.

In Rajshahi, hundreds of students from Rajshahi University boycotted classes and examinations, blocking the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway for nearly thirty minutes. The students demanded prompt action and harsher penalties for those guilty of sexual violence to ensure the safety of women.

Protests also erupted at the Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia, where students obstructed the Khulna-Kushtia highway near the university's main gate. This demonstration followed a protest march that began from the university's Botatola area at noon, as reported by the country's leading daily, The Dhaka Tribune.

The students called for the death penalty for individuals accused of such heinous acts.

Meanwhile, Save the Children, which has been dedicated to child protection in Bangladesh for over fifty years, condemned the Magura incident. The organization expressed deep concern regarding the increasing violence against women and children in the country.

In an official statement, Save the Children highlighted alarming figures, revealing that 2,362 women and girls have experienced violence this year alone, including 1,036 children. The organization urged the government to ensure swift justice for the survivor of the Magura incident and to reinforce protective systems to prevent such occurrences.

Shumon Sengupta, Country Director of Save the Children in Bangladesh, emphasized the necessity for systemic reforms.

"We demand justice for the victim of this horrific crime. Authorities must ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly brought to trial. With nearly 40 percent of violence victims being children, urgent reforms are essential to protect their well-being, particularly that of young girls," Sengupta stated.

She underscored that prevention starts with transforming societal mindsets to prioritize child protection. Sengupta further noted that establishing robust protective mechanisms at family and community levels is vital to avert violence, abuse, and exploitation.

In a significant legal update, a Bangladeshi court has mandated the immediate removal of all images of the Magura survivor from social media, as reported by local media.

The High Court bench, consisting of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Debasish Roy Chowdhury, issued the order on Sunday after reviewing a media report on the issue. The court instructed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to ensure the prompt deletion of the content.

Lt General (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Home Affairs Advisor to the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, assured that the government is committed to ensuring that the accused face justice. He emphasized that those accountable for such heinous crimes will not be allowed to evade responsibility.

The protests reflect a growing frustration among citizens who are calling for immediate reforms to enhance safety for women and children, along with stricter enforcement of laws to prevent such crimes in the future.