The country has been gripped by widespread outrage following the rape and murder of schoolgirl Ramisa in the capital's Pallabi area, with protests erupting across political, educational and civil society platforms demanding swift justice and exemplary punishment for those responsible.
Messages of grief, anger and condemnation poured in from political leaders and organisations across the spectrum. BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman reportedly assured exemplary punishment for the perpetrators, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Dr Shafiqur Rahman expressed "deep anger and profound grief" over the incident and demanded the "maximum punishment for the main culprits and all those involved in the heinous crime".
Leaders of several political parties, including the Amar Bangladesh (AB) Party, the National Citizen Party (NCP) and the Jatiya Party, also issued statements expressing shock and condemning the incident.
On Thursday morning, classmates and local residents staged demonstrations in front of Ramisa's residence in Pallabi, demanding speedy justice. In Mirpur, protesters blocked roads and called for capital punishment for the accused. Demonstrators also gathered at Pallabi Police Station, demanding immediate legal action and a fast-track trial.
The incident triggered protests at educational institutions across the country. At Dhaka University, students formed a human chain and brought out a torch procession protesting the killing, violence against women and what they described as a worsening law and order situation.
Similar protests and human chain programmes were held at Chittagong University, Jagannath University, Comilla University and Islamic University, where students strongly condemned the incident and demanded justice.
Outside the capital, demonstrations spread to several districts as people from different professions formed human chains and held rallies demanding justice for the victim.
In Gazipur, teachers, students and guardians of Freedom Fighter Abul Hossain Khan Public School organised a human chain demanding the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of the perpetrators.
In Lakshmipur, demonstrations were organised under the banners of the Rape Resistance Forum and Universal Aware Citizen.
Protests were also reported in Mujibnagar of Meherpur, Gaibandha, Sonaimuri in Noakhali, Mymensingh, Bhola, Rangpur and Satkhira, where students, teachers and local organisations took to the streets demanding maximum punishment for the accused and stronger protection for women and children.
Human rights organisations Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) and Human Rights Support Society (HRSS) expressed deep concern and strong condemnation over what they described as a series of recent incidents of child rape, murder and torture across the country.
They called for the immediate identification and prosecution of those responsible to uphold the rule of law.
National children's organisation Fulkuri Asar also condemned the killing of Ramisa Akhtar, demanding a speedy trial and stronger measures to ensure child safety. Bangladesh Mahila Parishad called for coordinated social resistance through the formation of a broader civic platform.
The incident also drew reactions from sports personalities. Former Bangladesh captain and Bangladesh Cricket Board president Tamim Iqbal, cricketers Mushfiqur Rahim and Imrul Kayes, Bangladesh women's cricket team captain Nigar Sultana Joty, and national pacer Shariful Islam expressed shock and anger over the killing.
Meanwhile, reactions continued to pour in on social media, where users, public figures and entertainment personalities voiced concern over what they described as a culture of impunity.
Actor Irfan Sajjad, in a social media post, expressed anger over the incident and questioned the prevailing culture of impunity while calling for exemplary punishment for those responsible.
