Dhaka: Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) under the banner of Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JUCSU) blockaded the Dhaka-Aricha highway for about 20 minutes on Monday, protesting the failure to arrest the suspect involved in an attempted rape of a female student even after more than 100 hours.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the students initiated their protest with a procession from the Shaheed Minar area of the university at around 4:00pm. They subsequently held a brief rally near the main gate, known as Dairy Gate, and obstructed the adjacent Dhaka-Aricha highway from 4:37pm to 4:57pm.
During the protest, the demonstrators chanted slogans demanding justice and accountability, including ‘Justice, justice, we want justice,’ ‘Break the hands of the perpetrators,’ ‘We demand justice,’ ‘Why is my sister being oppressed,’ and ‘Home Minister must answer.’ These slogans highlighted their frustration and demand for immediate action.
Addressing the rally, JUCSU Vice President Abdul Rashid Zitu expressed his dissatisfaction over the authorities’ inaction, noting that nearly 150 hours had passed since the incident without any arrest. He demanded the immediate identification and arrest of the suspect, warning that the protests would intensify if justice is delayed further. Zitu also cautioned that any unwanted situation arising from the movement would hold the university administration and the state responsible.
JUCSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam criticized the authorities for their failure to act despite having access to CCTV footage, pointing out that suspects in more serious incidents are often apprehended quickly. He urged for swift identification and legal action against those responsible, alleging that certain groups were attempting to destabilize the campus and calling it a conspiracy. Mazharul Islam emphasized the urgency for justice and warned that the movement would escalate to include further blockades of the campus and highway if their demands were not met.