Case filed over rape attempt on JU student

An attempted rape case has been filed against an unidentified man after a female student of Jahangirnagar University was allegedly attacked on campus late Tuesday night.

The case was filed with Ashulia Police Station by Md Gafrul Hasan Chowdhury, deputy registrar of the university’s security office.

According to university authorities, the incident occurred after 11:00pm near the abandoned old Fazilatunnesa Hall and the extended section of Al-Beruni Hall.

Citing the victim’s account, university security officials said the student was walking along a campus road when an unidentified man began following her. Near the abandoned Fazilatunnesa Hall, the suspect allegedly wrapped a net-like object around her neck and dragged her into a nearby wooded area beside the extended section of Al-Beruni Hall.

Several students passing through the area on a motorcycle reportedly heard the victim screaming for help and rushed to the scene.

Safikul Islam, a Bangla department student from the university’s 43rd batch, said they found the victim in a distressed condition near the bushes after responding to the cries for help.

The students later informed the university authorities, after which members of the security office and proctorial body arrived at the scene.

The deputy registrar said authorities searched the area immediately after being informed around 11:15pm but failed to locate the suspect.

The victim was later taken to the university medical centre for primary treatment, while authorities reviewed CCTV footage to identify the accused.

According to officials, CCTV footage showed the suspect dragging the student into the wooded area after wrapping a net-like object around her neck. Authorities said they have been able to identify the suspect preliminarily based on the footage.

AKM Rashidul Alam said the suspect’s face was clearly visible in the CCTV footage and that the individual did not appear to be a student of the university.

“We are deeply distressed by the incident that took place on our campus,” he said.