Students at Jahangirnagar University remain firm in their demand for the resignation of the proctorial body, alleging administrative failure to arrest the accused in the attempted rape and attempted murder of a female student. As part of their protest, demonstrating students locked the university’s proctor office on Saturday morning. They also staged an overnight sit-in and protest outside the vice-chancellor’s residence on Friday night.
Students alleged that although 48 hours had passed since the incident, the accused had yet to be arrested. They further claimed that the proctor had labelled protesting students as “conspirators”. According to them, the administration’s failure to ensure campus security has emboldened outsiders to commit such crimes on campus. They warned that if immediate action is not taken, the registrar’s office will also be locked from Sunday.
At around 1:30am on Friday, a protest march began from Taramon Bibi Hall. The procession moved through several female dormitories before ending in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence, where female students from different halls later continued their sit-in.
During the protest, students accused the university administration of failing to ensure campus safety and demanded the resignation of the entire proctorial body, including Proctor Professor Rashidul Alam.
According to protesting students, the proctorial body has lost its “moral authority” due to its failure to ensure internal campus security and take effective measures in several past incidents.
Lameesha Zaman, a student of the Department of History, said: “Questions have been raised regarding the role of the proctorial body in various incidents on campus over the past two years. That is why everyone has agreed on demanding their resignation.”
At around 2:30am, Vice-Chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan met with the students. A heated exchange reportedly took place over the demand for the proctor’s resignation.
The vice-chancellor said: “If a crime is committed within the university by a student, teacher or staff member, it falls under the proctorial body’s jurisdiction. However, if an outsider commits a crime, it becomes a criminal matter under police jurisdiction.”
His remarks immediately sparked anger among the protesting students. Later, the vice-chancellor said: “There are established procedures for everything. A proctor does not resign simply because people gather outside a residence. An investigation committee will be formed to examine whether there was any negligence on the part of the proctorial body.”
However, the students rejected the proposal and announced that they would continue their movement.
Earlier, at around 11:30pm on Tuesday, a female student was allegedly dragged from a road into nearby woods beside the old Fazilatunnesa Hall area and subjected to an attempted rape. The following day, students issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the arrest of the accused, while also demanding the resignation of the proctorial body if no arrest was made within the deadline.
The students’ demands include the swift arrest and trial of the accused, stronger campus security, effective measures to prevent harassment, the formation of a quick response team with female security personnel, and the enactment and implementation of cyber safety laws for students.
