Jahangirnagar University Students Demand Justice

A large group of students at Jahangirnagar University held a protest and human chain on Monday demanding a thorough and impartial investigation into the recent murder of a female student, along with exemplary punishment for those responsible. The event was organised by the Jahangirnagar University Research Council Family and took place adjacent to the central library, near the Shaheed Minar on the university campus.

By 2:00 pm, students had gathered at the Shaheed Minar courtyard. They later formed a human chain along the road in front of the central library. Following this, the demonstrators marched along the Shaheed Minar area, concluding the procession at Murad Chattar, a prominent square near the university.

Among the participants were Abdur Rashid (Jitu), Vice President of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JACSU); Ahsan Labib, Secretary for Social Service and Human Resource Development; and Sohagi Samia, organiser of the Socialist Student Front.

Speaking at the event, Sohagi Samia said, “The murder of Jahangirnagar University student Sharmin Jahan was carried out in a brutally inhumane manner. Over the past eighteen months, there have been multiple incidents of sexual assault and violence against women, including killings following rape, none of which have received exemplary judicial attention. If this case is not quickly and justly resolved, we will escalate our actions, including surrounding the university administration and relevant police stations, and maintain our protests until justice is served.”

Ahsan Labib added, “Crimes within and around the campus are increasing, yet the university administration has no policy to effectively address these issues. The culture of impunity significantly contributes to the rise of such crimes. Our demands to the government include a fair and impartial investigation into Sharmin’s murder and the implementation of necessary measures to prevent violence nationwide.”

JACSU Vice President Abdur Rashid (Jitu) emphasised, “The student union, together with the university administration and the family of the victim, is fully cooperating with law enforcement to ensure justice. Authorities have been urged to determine the true circumstances of the incident swiftly and ensure exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. The safety of students residing in and around the campus must be guaranteed immediately.”

Sharmin Jahan, aged 23, was found dead in a rented flat in Savar on Sunday afternoon. She was a student of the 51st batch in the Department of Public Administration. Born in Tetoi village, Kachua Upazila, Chandpur, she was the daughter of Shahjahan Molla and wife of Fahim Al Hasan of Khairul village, Muradnagar, Comilla. Fahim was initially taken into questioning and later formally arrested following a case filed by Sharmin’s uncle, Monirul Islam.

Key Details of the Case

The protest demonstrated the students’ determination to demand justice and highlighted the urgent need for enhanced campus security, stricter law enforcement, and accountability in cases of violence against women.