Students at Bangladesh’s Jahangirnagar University on Sunday locked the university’s administrative building after previously sealing the proctor’s office, intensifying protests over the administration’s handling of an attempted rape case involving a female student.
The demonstrations erupted after police and university authorities failed to arrest the accused more than 100 hours after the alleged assault near a women’s dormitory on campus, prompting growing anger among students who accuse the administration of negligence and inaction.
At around 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, protesting students placed locks on the main gate of the university’s administrative building, effectively halting regular operations while allowing emergency access for students and staff.
The latest protest came a day after demonstrators declared university proctor Professor Rashidul Alam “unwelcome” on campus and locked his office, demanding the resignation of the entire proctorial body over what they described as a failure to ensure campus safety.
Students Accuse Authorities of Inaction
The protests stem from an alleged attempted rape that took place late Tuesday night near the old Fazilatunnesa Hall area of the university campus in Savar, on the outskirts of Dhaka.
According to students and university officials, a female student was allegedly dragged from a road into a nearby wooded area around 11:30 p.m. on May 12 in what students described as an attempted sexual assault.
The following day, university authorities filed a case with Ashulia Police Station against unidentified individuals.
Students subsequently issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the arrest of the suspect. When no arrest followed, protests escalated across the campus.
Adrita Roy, a student from the Department of Drama and Dramatics who joined the demonstrations, criticized the authorities for failing to produce results despite the passage of several days.
“More than 100 hours have passed, but there is still no news of the arrest of the fugitive accused,” Adrita told reporters during Sunday’s protest on campus. “It raises serious questions about whether the administration is properly carrying out its responsibilities.”
She said the students’ six-point demand list prioritizes the immediate arrest of the accused.
“Our first and most important demand is the swift arrest of the suspect,” she added. “We locked the administrative building to create pressure on the authorities.”
Investigation Committee Formed
Facing mounting criticism, the university administration on Saturday night announced the formation of a seven-member investigation committee to probe the incident.
In a statement issued around 11:30 p.m. by Acting Director of Public Relations Mohammad Mohiuddin, the university said the committee had been instructed to submit its report within seven days.
The committee is headed by Professor Md Sohel Rana of the Department of Pharmacy. Other members include Professor Nahid Akhtar of Botany, Professor Md Zakir Hossain of Philosophy, Professor Nasrin Sultana of Government and Politics, Professor Md Kamruzzaman of Zoology, and Professor Md Zahir Raihan of Philosophy. Deputy Registrar Lutfur Rahman Arif of the Higher Education and Scholarship section will serve as member secretary.
University authorities have not publicly explained why the suspect remains at large despite the passage of several days since the alleged assault.
Safety Concerns at Universities
The incident has reignited debate over campus safety and the handling of sexual violence allegations at Bangladeshi universities, particularly at residential public institutions where students often complain of inadequate security measures.
Jahangirnagar University, one of Bangladesh’s largest residential public universities, has witnessed repeated protests over allegations of harassment, violence and administrative failures in recent years.
Student activists say female students remain especially vulnerable due to poor lighting, weak surveillance and inadequate security patrols in isolated parts of the campus.
Rights advocates have also argued that delayed investigations and slow police responses frequently discourage survivors from seeking justice.
The latest protests come amid broader political tensions in Bangladesh’s university sector following the political upheaval of August 2024, when the Sheikh Hasina-led government was ousted and the country entered a prolonged period of unrest and administrative restructuring under the interim authorities.
Student groups across several universities have since become increasingly vocal on issues of safety, accountability and institutional governance.
Pressure Mounts on Administration
As protests intensified Sunday, students warned that demonstrations could expand further if the accused is not arrested quickly and if university authorities fail to meet their demands.
The protest movement has already disrupted administrative activities on campus and placed growing pressure on university officials to restore confidence among students.
No arrests had been announced as of Sunday evening.
