INSULTING WOMEN ONLINE: BUET student arrested amid late-night protest

A student from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) was arrested during overnight protest on the campus on Wednesday.

Sreeshant Roy, a student from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and a resident of Ahsanullah Hall, was arrested in connection with a case filed under the Cyber Security Act at Chawkbazar Police Station.

Earlier, the BUET campus became tense and turbulent following allegations of rape and sexual harassment against the student.

According to police and university sources, Sreeshanto allegedly made offensive, degrading, and sexually harassing remarks about women on the social media platform Reddit under an anonymous account.

He also reportedly admitted to acts of sexual assault in those online posts.

Around midnight on Wednesday, hundreds of BUET students gathered in front of the Directorate of Students' Welfare (DSW) building, demanding Sreeshanto's permanent expulsion and immediate arrest.

At around 1:45 am, students from Dhaka University also joined the protest, marching from the VC Chattar through Hallpara to the BUET main gate, expressing solidarity with the BUET students.

Several BUET students said, "Based on multiple proofs and digital evidence, we are convinced that Sreeshanto operated that Reddit account and deliberately made obscene and harassing remarks about women."

They also urged anyone who had previously been harassed by him to come forward, assuring that their identities would be kept confidential.

Under growing pressure from the protesting students, Professor Dr. A. K. M. Masud, Director of the Directorate of Students' Welfare, issued a written notice announcing Sreeshanto's temporary expulsion.

Later that night, police detained Sreeshanto and took him to Chawkbazar Police Station.

Following a case filed by a BUET security officer on behalf of the administration, he was shown arrested and subsequently sent to jail through the court.

SI Abdur Razzak of Chawkbazar Police Station confirmed, "BUET authorities filed a case against Sreeshanto last night. He has been arrested under that case and sent to prison."

The First Information Report (FIR) stated that Sreeshanto, using a fake name on Reddit, made offensive comments about Islam and Muslim women, which deeply hurt the religious sentiments of students and devout Muslims.

His remarks, the report added, sparked unrest and anxiety among students on campus, prompting the university to take legal action.

armanhossen7971@gmai.com