JU student reports attempted rape on campus; suspect seen on CCTV

A female student was allegedly assaulted and an attempt was made to rape her on the campus of Jahangirnagar University late last night (12 May). 

The incident took place around 11:30pm on the road in front of the old Fazilatunnesa Hall, near the Al-Beruni Hall extension area.

University Proctor AKM Rashidul Alam said authorities reviewed CCTV footage after the incident and are working with law enforcement agencies to identify the suspect.

"We have seen the suspect's face in the footage and are trying to identify him," he said.

The proctor added that, based on preliminary findings, the suspect does not appear to be a student of the university.

"We are deeply saddened by the incident. We want the perpetrator to be arrested quickly and brought to justice," he added.

A student of the university's 53rd batch of the History Department Lamisa, said the victim lives in the nearby Islamnagar area. Quoting the victim she said, she could not find a rickshaw and was walking through the campus toward the old Arts Building extension area when she noticed someone following her.

Sensing something was wrong, she turned around and asked the man who he was and whether he was a student of the university, said Lamisa. The man introduced himself as a student from the 48th batch. Moments later, he allegedly attacked her, using a cloth-like object to grab her by the throat and trying to drag her into nearby bushes.

The student screamed for help during the attack. She later managed to break free - reportedly by biting the attacker or resisting in some other way - before running onto the road and asking nearby people for help. Locals later rescued her and took her to the university medical centre.

Mohammad Ali Chishti, executive secretary of the university student union, said he was passing the area in an autorickshaw when he heard screams.

"At first, I thought there had been an accident or some kind of altercation," he said. "When we reached the spot, the victim told us someone had tried to rape her."

He said the victim pointed toward a nearby bush where the attacker had tried to take her. Chishti and several others searched the area, suspecting the man might still be hiding nearby, but they could not find him.

Doctors at the university medical centre said the student had multiple injury marks on her body that appeared to be nail scratches.

Dr Tanvir Hossain, who was on duty at the medical centre, said the student was given primary treatment after being brought in.

Nurse Alomgir Hossain said the injuries suggested she had been forcefully scratched.