JU Chhatra League leader, 3 others arrested over rape allegation on campus

The police have arrested four, including Jahangirnagar University (JU) Chhatra League Leader Mostafizur Rahman, in connection with the rape of a woman on the university campus.

"The victim's husband filed a case at Ashulia police station naming 6 individuals last night. In the case, Mostafiz and Mamun have been accused of rape. The remaining four have been accused of assault and aiding the accused in escaping. Four have been arrested while two are still at large," said Abdullah Hil Kafi, Dhaka district's additional police super (Crime and Ops and Traffic North division), during a press conference today (4 February).

The arrested are Mostafijur Rahman, Md Sabbir Hasan Sagar, Sagar Siddique and Hasanuzzaman. All of them are JU students, he added.

"The victim has been sent to the One-Stop Crisis Center at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for a medical examination. The four that were arrested have been sent to court with a 7-day remand plea," Abdullah Hil Kafi said.

Earlier last night (3 February), Mostafizur and Mamun allegedly raped a woman near Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall while keeping her husband locked in a room of the dormitory.

The victim identified the accused as Mostafizur Rahman, a student of the 45th batch of the university's International Relations Department, and an outsider, Mamun, 45. 

"Mamun rented a room in our house. When my husband visited the JU campus with him yesterday, Mamun told him that he would be staying with Mostafizur at Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall for a few days," said the victim.

"My husband then called me over phone and told me to bring some of Mamun's clothes to the campus. When I went there, Mamun took his belongings to the hall. Then they took me to the jungle near Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall and said my husband would arrive here. Then Mostafizur and Mamun raped me at the place," she added.

Mostafizur, who is now expelled from JU Chhatra League following the rape allegations, was the international affairs secretary of the Awami League (AL) student wing. 

"Mostafiz has been expelled from the JU Chhatra League based on the allegations, with a recommendation from the central body for his permanent expulsion," said Akhtaruzzaman Sohel, president of the JU unit Chhatra League.

JU Proctor ASM Firoz-ul-Hasan said, "We are ready to assist the police in any way they require, including collecting CCTV footage from the hall.

"Regardless of who is involved, we will ensure that rapists are punished," he added.

Meanwhile, students of Jahangirnagar University have staged a demonstration in front of the Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall in protest at the incident. They demanded a thorough investigation and punishment for the culprits.