The movement on the third day demanding punishment for those involved in the incident of rape of a housewife is still ongoing at Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus.
On Monday, from 12 noon to 2 pm, teachers and students gathered at the platform titled 'Anti-Oppression Forum' in front of the Central Shaheed Minar of the university, holding a human chain under the banner of the university's teachers and students.
About 200 teachers and students participated in this human chain, leaving aside classes and exams. Meanwhile, two accused in the case filed by the husband of the victim, Mamunur Rashid Mamun and Murad Hossain, are under police surveillance and can be arrested at any time.
On the other hand, Mostafizur Rahman, a leader of the Chhatra League who is on remand, has admitted to his involvement in the rape of the victim during interrogation, according to a source involved in the investigation.
Abdullah Hill Kafi, Additional police super of Dhaka district, said, "The two accused are under police surveillance. They can be arrested at any time."
At the human chain organized at Jahangirnagar University on Tuesday, speakers demanded the highest punishment for those involved in the rape, evacuation of students from the halls, resignation of the university's proctor and vice-chancellor, and claimed innocence of accused teacher Mahmudur Rahman Joni in the case of sexual harassment. Until these demands are met, they announced to continue the movement.
Monika Yasmin, a student of the International Relations Department at the university, said, "We have seen that whenever any crime occurs on campus, there is a group of helpers behind it. When their crimes come to light, they claim that there is no group of criminals, just the identity of the criminal. We are not protesting here just for the punishment of one Mostafiz. We are also demanding punishment for accused teacher Mahmudur Rahman Joni in the case of sexual harassment."
Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, a professor in the Philosophy Department of the university, said, "Regardless of party affiliation, we are all standing here. This should be an example for the whole of Bangladesh. There is no democracy, no governance, and no rights in Bangladesh. The fault lies not only with Mostafiz and Manik but also with the university administration who nurtured all these Mostafizes and Maniks."
Rayhan Raine, convener of the Anti-Oppression Forum, Philosophy Department, said, "All kinds of crimes happen on campus, and students are somehow involved with them. Again, the administration shelters those criminals. Ordinary students have no guardians at the university. The university administration is the guardian of the illegal. Until our demands are met, the movement will continue."
Moreover, under the leadership of Mohammad Hasib Zaman, a graduate student (48 batch) of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at the university, professors Shamsul Alam Selim of the Government and Politics Department, ASM Anwarullah Bhuiyan of the Philosophy Department, Md. Golam Rabbani of the History Department, Dr. Mafruhi Sattar of the Pharmacy Department, and Assistant Professor Mahmuda Akanda also spoke.
In this regard, the JU Teachers' Association has announced to move of the Human Bond in protest against the implementation of the decisions of the Emergency Syndicate held on 4th February. Relevantly, on Saturday, 3rd February, students protested on campus against the alleged sexual rape of a wife by bringing her husband and locking him up in a residential hall, under the leadership of the university's Chhatra League.
The incident of rape took place in the jungle near the Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall of the university around 9 p.m. Meanwhile, after filing a case of gang rape at the Ashulia Police Station against six persons including the husband of the victim in the incident, the police arrested four including the main accused within three days.
They are in police custody for three days. The main accused was the international affairs editor of the Chhatra League branch of Jahangirnagar University. However, after the allegation was raised, the branch informed that he was exempted.
