JU Forms Committee to Probe Student Rape Allegations

The administration of Jahangirnagar University (JU) has established a high-level, six-member inquiry committee to investigate the harrowing allegations of physical and mental torture, including rape, of a female student. Following an emergency administrative meeting chaired by Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, the university has also moved to temporarily suspend all academic certificates of the accused, a former student of the institution.

Details of the Incident

The complainant, a student of the Department of Public Administration, formally submitted her grievance to the Proctor’s office. According to the allegations, the accused—identified as SM Tarikul Islam, a former student of the 44th batch of the Institute of Information Technology (IIT)—intercepted the victim near the Bir Protik Taramon Bibi Hall on 24 February at approximately 6:00 pm.

It is alleged that Tarikul Islam coerced the victim under duress and transported her to a rented residence in the nearby Islamnagar area. The complaint further details a traumatic ordeal where the victim was bound by her hands and feet before being subjected to severe physical and psychological abuse, culminating in sexual assault.

The Investigation Panel

To ensure a transparent and rigorous investigation, the university has appointed Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar, Dean of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, to lead the committee. The panel is tasked with submitting a comprehensive report alongside recommendations for further action.

Committee Composition:

Administrative Actions and Security

In light of the severity of the accusations, the emergency meeting—attended by the Pro-Vice-Chancellors, Treasurer, Acting Registrar, and Proctor—resolved to immediately invalidate the undergraduate and postgraduate credentials of the accused pending the final verdict of the investigation.

Furthermore, the university executive body has issued a formal request to the university’s internal security wing and state law enforcement agencies to ensure the absolute safety and protection of the complainant. This incident has sparked significant outrage on campus, with student bodies demanding a swift, impartial trial and the permanent expulsion of the accused from the university's records.