JU students demand justice over alleged assault, rape attempt on campus

Students of Jahangirnagar University staged a
protest on Wednesday night (13 May) demanding justice against an alleged
assault and attempted rape incident on campus the previous night.
The demonstration began around 10:30pm at Tarzan
Point, adjacent to the university's female dormitories.
Protesting students brought out a torch
procession that marched through several key points of the campus, including
Pritilata Hall, Begum Khaleda Zia Hall, Chourangi, Jucsu building and the
transport area, before ending in front of the proctor's office.
Gathering in front of the university's proctor
office, progressive student groups demanded the resignation of Proctor Professor
AKM Rashidul Alam before announcing a five-point set of demands.
The protesters called for the arrest of the
accused within 24 hours and a speedy trial, while also demanding the
resignation of the entire proctorial body for what they described as a failure
to ensure campus security.
They further urged the university administration
to take immediate steps to prevent harassment on campus by forming a quick
response team, strengthening security at all entry points, and repairing
infrastructural flaws at campus gates.
The students also demanded the recruitment of
more female security personnel and the effective inclusion of female staff
members in the quick response team to ensure female students can receive prompt
support during emergencies.
On the night of 12 May, a female student was
allegedly assaulted and an attempt was made to rape her on the JU campus.
The incident took place around 11:30pm on the
road in front of the old Fazilatunnesa Hall, near the Al-Beruni Hall extension
area.
A student of the university's 53rd batch of the
History Department, Lamisa, said the victim lives in the nearby Islamnagar
area. Quoting the victim, Lamisa said, she could not find a rickshaw and was
walking through the campus toward the old Arts Building extension area when she
noticed someone following her.
Sensing something was wrong, she turned around
and asked the man who he was and whether he was a student of the university,
said Lamisa. The man introduced himself as a student from the 48th batch.
Moments later, he allegedly attacked her, using a cloth-like object to grab her
by the throat and trying to drag her into nearby bushes.
The student screamed for help during the attack.
She later managed to break free - reportedly by biting the attacker or
resisting in some other way - before running onto the road and asking nearby
people for help. Locals later rescued her and took her to the university medical
centre.















