Akash Das, an executive member of the newly elected Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (CUCSU), has come under intense criticism after posting a Facebook status that appeared to blame a BUET student who reported being raped. The post questioned the survivor’s credibility and implied she shared responsibility for the assault, drawing outrage from students and activists across campuses.
Akash, a visually impaired student who was elected from the Shibir-backed Sampritir Chhatra Sangsad Jote panel, deleted the post within an hour after facing widespread backlash. He later issued a follow-up post expressing regret and claiming his comments were misunderstood. Speaking to Prothom Alo, Akash said he “believes in equal rights for men and women” and meant that “both the boy and the girl should be punished if guilty.” However, he added, “No one can forcibly rape anyone in an educational institution — these incidents happen because they already know each other,” a statement that further fueled outrage.
Screenshots of his original post quickly circulated on social media, prompting strong condemnation from students, campus organizations, and political groups, including Chhatra Dal, the Democratic Students’ Council, and the Revolutionary Students’ Alliance. Several CUCSU leaders, including Vice President Md. Ibrahim and General Secretary Sayeed Bin Habib—both from the same panel—publicly denounced Akash’s comments and demanded an unconditional apology.
That evening, students held a protest rally at Chittagong University’s Shaheed Minar, calling Akash’s remarks “misogynistic” and an attempt to normalize sexual violence. Protesters urged the university administration to take disciplinary action and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting survivors and building safer academic spaces.
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