Published: 01:18 AM, 19 May 2026
JUCSU blockade highway protesting failure to arrest attempted rape suspect
Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) under the banner of Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway for about 20 minutes on Monday, protesting the failure to arrest the suspect involved in an attempted rape of a female student even after more than 100 hours.
They brought out a protest procession from the Shaheed Minar area of the university at around 4:00pm. Later, they staged a brief rally near the main gate (Dairy Gate) and blocked the adjacent Dhaka-Aricha highway from 4:37pm to 4:57pm. During the protest, the demonstrators chanted various slogans including "Justice, justice, we want justice," "Break the hands of the perpetrators," "We demand justice," "Why is my sister being oppressed," and "Home Minister must answer," among others, reports UNB.
Addressing the rally, JUCSU Vice President Abdul Rashid Zitu said that despite nearly 150 hours passing since the incident, law enforcement agencies have failed to arrest the accused. He demanded immediate identification and arrest of the suspect and warned of intensified protests if justice is delayed further.
He also cautioned that any unwanted situation arising from the movement would make the university administration and the state responsible. JUCSU General Secretary Mazharul Islam said that suspects in even more serious incidents are often arrested quickly, but in this case, authorities have failed to act despite the availability of CCTV footage. He demanded swift identification and legal action against those responsible and further alleged attempts by certain groups to destabilize the campus, calling it a conspiracy and urged authorities to ensure justice without delay. He also warned that otherwise the movement would escalate to include further blockades of the campus and highway.
