JU teachers, students demand exemplary punishment

Jahangirnagar University (JU) teachers and students yesterday demanded exemplary punishment for perpetrators who sexually assaulted a female indigenous student, beat up her male friend and snatched their belongings on the campus during Pahela Baishakh celebrations.

They also sought resignation of Proctor Prof Tapan Kumar Saha for failing to take punitive measures against Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men who assaulted visitors in the past. The protestors also provided a memorandum to the vice chancellor.

The demands came at a human chain and rally under the banner “Shikkhak-Shikkharti Oikya Mancha”, convened by Prof Nasim Akhter Hossain of government and politics, in front of the central library.

Some 22 students' social and cultural associations expressed solidarity.

The JU authorities have suspended eight students and JU BCL unit five activists while an investigation has been initiated under an “Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell” of JU.