Ensure campus security, DU students demand after woman’s killing in crash

Students of Dhaka University and activists of different organisations burst into a protest today, staging torch processions and a sit-in in front of the vice-chancellor's residence, outraged by the shocking killing of a woman in a road crash on the campus.

The campus security must be ensured; otherwise, their peaceful protest will continue, the protesters said.

The sit-in ended around 11:30pm, roughly three hours after it started.

Rubina Akhter, 45, died after being dragged for around one kilometre underneath a car that hit the motorcycle she was riding on the campus.

Golam Rabbani, proctor of Dhaka University, identified the man behind the steering wheel as former assistant Prof Azhar Jafar Shah of DU's international relations department.

Azhar was sacked from the university in 2018 due to his prolonged absence.

Akhtar Hossain, president of Chhatra Adhikar Parishad, said drivers do not follow road safety rules while driving on the campus.

"There is no one to check these rowdy vehicles," he said.

The proctor of the university is trying to avert responsibilities whereas it is the university authorities' duty to ensure security to students and visitors on the campus, he added.

"The university authorities must take responsibility of her death," he said.

Adnan Aziz Chowdhury, general secretary of DU Chhatra Union, said the death must be considered a "murder".

"Had the teacher pulled off the car right after hitting the motorcycle, the woman may not have died… It's a clear murder," he said.

Adnan demanded the authority to point out speed limits on different points at the campus. Drivers must be punished for violating speed limits.

The protests have been called off for today as the DU proctor promised the protestors to take necessary measures in this connection, Armanul Haque, convener of DU unit of Students' Federation.

"The protest will continue from tomorrow evening," he added.

Prior to the sit-in programme, around 7:30pm, the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Adhikar Parishad brought out a torch procession in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture.

Earlier in the evening, elected leaders of some hall caucuses, DU Students' Union, and Chhatra Adhikar Parishad staged a demonstration in front of the vice-chancellor's residence.

Contacted, DU VC Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman termed the incident inhuman, cruel and tragic. "We are concerned about the safety of the campus."