The Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities cannot evade responsibility for the recent gang rape incident because crimes, including drugs and rape, have occurred there at various times in the past.
In all these cases, the authorities must be held accountable for the entry of outsiders. Commander Khandaker Al Moin, director of Rapid Action Battalion's law and media wing, expressed these views during a press conference at RAB's media centre in the capital’s Karwan Bazar on Thursday.
The briefing followed the arrest of Mamunur Rashid Mamun and his associate Md Murad Hossain Murad on Wednesday over the February 3 rape of a housewife on the JU campus.
A team of the elite force arrested Mamun, the mastermind of the rape, from Dhaka’s Farmgate and Murad, a student of the 44th batch of the Department of International Relations of the university, from Naogaon.
Commander Moin stressed the need for strict measures by the university authorities, especially in light of the recent gang rape incident.
“According to statements from the arrested individuals involved in the gang rape, the situation is alarming, and the authorities need to enhance their vigilance,” he added.
Speaking about coordination with law enforcement agencies, Commander Moin encouraged the university authorities to reach out for assistance, as preventing illegal activities, including drug-related incidents, require collaborative efforts.
He emphasized that the future wealth and leadership of the country depend on the education of the young, and steps should be taken to ensure their well-being and prevent their involvement in criminal activities.
Commander Moin cautioned against generalizing negative perceptions about all students but stressed the importance of continuous surveillance, considering the young age of students.
He mentioned: “Individuals like Mamun exploit students for their own benefit and we urge all stakeholders, including parents, university authorities, teachers' societies, law enforcement agencies, and the media, to take responsibility for preventing the misleading of young students.”
‘Mamun used to sell drugs at JU’
Despite being an outsider, Mamun had long been supplying drugs at the university campus, according to RAB.
He would bring Yaba pills from Cox’s Bazar and sell them at JU, said Moin.
“Mamun had been running the drug trade since 2017 at the JU campus with the help of some senior influential students,” added the RAB official.
“Mamun became closer to the prime accused, Mostafizur Rahman, through drug peddling. He would even stay at student dorms often,” Moin said.
Mamun, Moin said, has a history of being linked to sexual harassment on the campus.
In the early hours of February 4, four accused including Mostafizur, a JU student and a Chhatra League leader, were arrested. They were later placed on remand.
The rape triggered widespread protests at the university.
