Jahangirnagar university: Jahangirnagar University administration has taken 14 decisions to strengthen campus security following an alleged attempt to rape and kill a female student on the campus. Proctor Prof. Dr. A K M Rashidul Alam announced the decisions at a press conference held at the university’s senate hall this evening. Addressing the press conference, the proctor said a female student was allegedly subjected to an attempt of rape and murder by an outsider while returning to her residential hall on the night of May 12.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the university administration is working to ensure the arrest of the accused and exemplary punishment of the culprit. Prof. Rashidul Alam said the decisions were taken at an emergency administrative meeting held on May 14 with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan in the chair following various demands raised by students over campus security.
The decisions include forming a quick response team to address security-related complaints immediately and introducing a special hotline for emergency communication. The administration has mandated identity cards for teachers, students, officers, and employees. Entry of outsiders into the campus will be further restricted, allowing access only through designated gates after identity verification.
Identity cards will also be mandatory for construction workers, shop employees, and other outsiders working on the campus. The administration decided to remove floating shops from the campus and create a central database containing information of all shop-related personnel. To strengthen security, the number of guards at every entrance point of the university will be increased, and initiatives have been taken to deploy an additional 100 Ansar members on the campus.
The university authorities also decided to repair damaged boundary walls and gates, close unauthorized entry points, install adequate lighting in vulnerable areas, and set up CCTV cameras on an urgent basis. Besides, the tin-shed extension building of Al Beruni Hall has been declared abandoned, considering it risky, and a decision has been taken to demolish the structure.
Furthermore, the administration announced the formation of a permanent committee under existing policies to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, and ragging on the campus. Acting Director of Public Relations Office Mohammad Mahiuddin moderated the press conference, while Prof Zakir Hossain of Philosophy Department, Acting Registrar A B M Azizur Rahman, and assistant proctors, among others, were present at the press conference.