Hundreds of Jahangirnagar University students staged protests and brought out torch processions on Wednesday night as an unidentified person attempted to rape a female student on the university campus on Tuesday night, accusing that the university administration failed to ensure safety of students.
The protests began in the university’s Tarzan Point area, where female students gathered before marching across different parts of the campus. Male students later joined the demonstrations in solidarity.
Carrying torches and chanting slogans, the protesters demanded arrest and maximum punishment of the suspect accused of attempting to rape a female student on Tuesday night.
Demonstrators also called for the resignation of the university’s proctor, Professor AKM Rashidul Alam, alleging that he had failed to provide adequate security for female students on campus.
Students marched from the women’s dormitory area at about 10:00pm and later gathered in front of the proctor’s office.
According to protesting students, the proctor had said on Tuesday night that ensuring student security was not the responsibility of the proctor’s office but rather that of the registrar’s office.
‘The proctor has completely failed to ensure the safety and security of students,’ said Suraiya Islam, a student of the university’s history department.
‘How can he say that student safety is not his responsibility? His office has also failed to resolve complaints of harassment submitted there’, she added.
Bubly Ahmed, vice-president of Nawab Faizunnesa Hall union at the university, said the incident once again demonstrated the administration’s failure to ensure the safety of students, particularly women.
‘The lack of justice and progress in previous rape and murder cases has emboldened criminals further,’ she said. ‘If exemplary action is not taken in this case, such violence on campus will increase further.’
JU proctor Professor AKM Rashidul Alam said that the university administration stood beside the victim and would pursue legal action.
Students alleged that an outsider attacked a female student and attempted to rape her near the abandoned old building of Fazilatunnesa Hall and the extended section of Al Beruni Hall after 11:00pm on Tuesday, according to university authorities.
Earlier, a case over the attempted rape was filed with Ashulia Police Station against an unidentified man.
