Effigy burnt, protests against rape in JU

The teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) staged an anti-rape rally and burnt effigy of rapist-oppressor to achieve the five-point demand against rape.

The agitating teachers and students on Sunday held a protest programme in front of 'Amar Ekush' of the university.

Earlier on the night of February 3, the husband was confined in room number 317 of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall while the wife was gang raped in the adjoining forest. The 45th batch student of the university's international relations department Mostafizur Rahman, along with his acquaintance Mamunur Rashid Mamun, was accused of rape. Given this, the students started the movement.

The anti-harassment stage has warned of intense agitation after no decision has been reached against Public Health and Informatics Department assistant professor Mahmudur Rahman Jani, who is accused of sexual harassment, in the university's syndicate meeting on February 20.

Sohagi Samia, a student of Drama and Dramaturgy department, said, "The students' movement is going on, on the other hand, the farce is going on too. The administration has yet to evict the former students. If the administration fails to fulfill their responsibilities, they should resign. The administration said they would evict all the students within five working days but they could not. The administration is showing that they are kicking out a few students. Ahead of the Admission Test, we want students to enter the campus freely. Our movement will continue."

Tawhid Siam, a student of the International Relations department, said, "Let the syndicate identify those who helped to make Mostafiz a rapist. This incident will not end only with the trial of Mostafiz. Proctors, Provosts, and those who cooperated should also be prosecuted. There is drug trade on campus. Identify them. Or we will think that the university administration is also involved with this syndicate."

Professor Sohail Ahmed said that the resignation of the proctor and provost is very important if we want to take the admission test and ensure a safe campus for everyone. He said, "We have previously demanded the resignation of the proctor and provost in the interest of impartial investigation and trial. But the administration did not accept that demand. How well the oppressors are being prosecuted in other universities across the country such as DU, and CU. There is no safe environment anywhere in the university."

If no visible progress is seen in the syndicate, the admission examination process will be hindered, for which the administration will have to take full responsibility, said Professor Mafruhi Sattar. He said, "None of the decisions reached by the university syndicate have been fully implemented. There was a lot of discussion about these issues in the meeting of the teachers association. There was no difference of opinion of any teacher."

The teachers and students of various faculties of the university were present there.