Mustafizur Rahman, the prime suspect in the Jahangirnagar University (JU) incident where he detained a couple, leading to the rape of the wife, was found to be residing illegally in the university's Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall for over a year.
University sources reveal that Mustafiz, a 45th batch student from the International Relations Department, occupied room number 205 in the "B" block of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall.
He held the position of international affairs secretary in the Chhatra League unit of the university until he was expelled following the rape allegations.
According to the university's examination controller office, the theoretical examination for the postgraduate class in the International Relations Department concluded on December 7, 2022, after starting on November 10.
University regulations state that students must vacate residence halls within seven days of completing postgraduate exams.
However, this rule has been neglected in the case of Mustafiz.
Not only Mustafiz but most politically active students affiliated with the ruling party enjoy this illegal advantage.
Thousands of illegal students in dorms
Jahangirnagar University is officially recognized as the sole residential higher education institution in the country.
Currently, academic programs are underway for students ranging from the 47th batch to the 52nd batch. Consequently, these six batches are considered the only legitimate students of the university.
However, it has come to light that numerous students from the 41st batch to the 46th batch are still residing in the university halls.
According to students, a significant number of them are allegedly affiliated with Chhatra League politics.
The president and general secretary of the university's Chhatra League unit have reportedly occupied a total of four rooms, each equipped with four seats.
Among them, Aktaruzzaman Sohel, the president of the university unit of Chhatra League, resides in rooms 320 and 322 of Maulana Bhasani Hall, while General Secretary Md Habibur Rahman Liton occupies rooms 349 and 447 of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall.
Notably, Liton is staying in rooms designated for students admitted under a special quota (children of university employees). This is a violation of the rules that prohibit residency under this special quota.
The committee of the University Chhatra League comprises over 400 leaders and activists.
Astonishingly, aside from those in top positions, at least 200 leaders and activists lack official studentship.
Moreover, thousands of non-students are reported to be residing in the university's halls of residence.
This influx of non-students has created a crisis for regular students who find themselves crowded in common rooms.
Addressing the issue, Professor Nigar Sultana, President of the University's Hall Principal Committee, remarked: "We have two newly constructed halls that remain unopened due to insufficient manpower. We anticipate opening these halls within a month and a half. Once operational, there will be no need for common rooms and mini common rooms."
Students express frustration
As soon as news of the rape incident spread inside the campus, the students gathered in front of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall and started protesting to press home their three-point demand.
The demands are that within one hour the university authorities should file a case against the accused, within three days to evict the students in the halls, to provide exemplary punishment to the rapist and his accomplices.
After meeting Vice-Chancellor Parveen Joli, professor of the history department of the university, said: "We have made three demands. I have asked the vice-chancellor to call an urgent syndicate meeting to resolve the issues. The vice-chancellor has assured us.”
Russell, a Bangla department student, expressed frustration, said: "Everyone knows who holds the power. It's the administration's responsibility to ensure the security of university students. If it fails in this regard, there's no justification for its existence. This campus, which belongs to us, should not be a haven for rapists."
Tanzina Aman Tanjum, a Journalism and Media Studies student participating in the protest, emphasized: “The administration bears the entire responsibility. Their failure to promptly evict students from the hall implies that the administration is indirectly supporting the perpetrators.”
What happened on Saturday night?
According to the complaint source, an outsider named Mamun lured the rape survivor's husband to the university on Saturday evening.
Upon the husband's arrival on the university campus, the accused detained him in room number 317 of the "A" block of Mir Musharraf Hossain Hall. Subsequently, Mamun instructed the rape survivor to bring Mamun's belongings from their house.
When the woman arrived at the campus with Mamun's possessions, Mamun retrieved them.
The rape survivor alleged that Mamun then took her to the forest adjacent to the hall, claiming that her husband would be arriving from another gate on the forest side.
It was in this forested area that Mamun and Mustafizur of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall, allegedly assaulted and took turns in raping her.
In relation to the incident on Saturday, the rape survivor's husband filed a case against six individuals at Ashulia police station.
Addressing the case, Additional Superintendent of Police of Dhaka District Abdullahil Kafi (Crime and Operations) announced in a press conference on Sunday: "The primary suspect, Mustafizur, was apprehended from the Savar police station area early in the morning."