JU students besiege VC office for quick probe into assault on female Adivasi peer

Jahangirnagar University (JU) students yesterday besieged the vice-chancellor's office and staged a sit-in demanding expediting investigation into the sexual harassment of a female indigenous student and protesting Sunday's police beating of demonstrators protesting another sexual assault on women at Dhaka University.

Organised under the banner "Nipironer Biruddhe Jahangirnagar", they demanded the students, who are also Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists, accused of harassing the female be expelled and declared persona non grata.

The demonstrators left after one hour on being assured by Prof Farzana Islam that the "Anti-Sexual Harassment Cell" would complete investigations by May 23.

The indigenous student's male friend was also assaulted and their belongings snatched near Munni Shoroni road on the campus during the April 14 Pahela Baishakh celebrations.

Days later, the JU authorities suspended eight students and five BCL activists.

In DU, some 20 women were assaulted during the celebrations. Sunday's beating occurred when Bangladesh Chhatra Union tried to lay siege to the Dhaka Metropolitan Police headquarters demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the perpetrators.