JU takes 14-point security plan after attempt to rape on student

Jahangirnagar University (JU) administration has adopted a 14-point plan to bolster campus security following an attempt to rape and murder a female student.

Proctor Prof AKM Rashidul Alam announced the measures during a press conference held at the university’s Senate Hall on Thursday evening.

Condemning the attack, he reaffirmed the administration's commitment to ensuring the swift arrest and exemplary punishment of the perpetrator.

The decisions were finalised during an emergency administrative meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Prof Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan on May 14, following protests from various student and teacher organisations.

The university is forming a quick response team and launching a dedicated hotline for emergency complaints, the proctor said.

Carrying ID cards is now mandatory for all teachers, students, officers, and employees, he added.

Entry of outsiders will be strictly controlled, while construction workers, shop staff, and other service providers must display official ID cards at all times.

The administration will create a comprehensive database for all temporary workers and vendors, Rashidul said.

The proctor revealed that the university has moved to clear all mobile shops from the campus.

To secure the perimeter, damaged sections of the boundary wall will be repaired, and unauthorised entry points will be sealed.

High-risk areas of the campus will be brought under CCTV surveillance and fitted with adequate lighting, the proctor said.

Additional guards have been deployed at entrance points.

The university has also applied to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the recruitment of new guards and the deployment of an additional 100 Ansar members, according to the proctor.

The tin-shed extension of Al-Beruni Hall has been declared abandoned and will be demolished to prevent it from being used for criminal activities.

Beyond physical security, the administration has decided to form a standing committee dedicated to preventing bullying, cyberbullying, and ragging.

The incident occurred on the night of May 12, when a female student was attacked by an "outside criminal" while returning to her residential hall.