A wave of protest and human chain demonstrations swept through Jahangirnagar University today as students demanded a fair and impartial investigation into the brutal murder of a fellow student, along with exemplary punishment for the perpetrators. The programme, organised by the Jahangirnagar University Research Council Family, took place on Monday afternoon near the central library adjacent to the university’s Shaheed Minar.
At around 2:00 pm, students gathered at the Shaheed Minar grounds, holding placards and banners calling for justice. Following this assembly, they staged a human chain along the street in front of the central library. The demonstration culminated in a protest march that proceeded along the Shaheed Minar road and concluded at Murad Chowk, located near the monument.
Prominent student leaders were present, including Abdur Rashid (Jitu), Vice President of the Jahangirnagar University Central Student Union (JACSU), social service and human resources secretary Ahsan Labib, and Sohagi Samia, organiser of the Socialist Student Front.
Sohagi Samia addressed the gathering, stating, “Sharmin Jahan, a student of Jahangirnagar University, has been brutally murdered. Over the past eighteen months, numerous incidents of sexual assault and violence against women have occurred, including several murders following sexual violence, yet none have resulted in exemplary justice. If this case is not swiftly prosecuted, we will encircle the university administration and the concerned police station, and continue our sit-in until justice is served.”
Ahsan Labib added, “Crime rates on and around campus are rising, but there is no policy from the administration to control this trend. The culture of impunity is a major factor in the increase of such violent crimes. We urge the government to ensure a thorough investigation into Sharmin’s murder and to take necessary measures nationwide to prevent such violence.”
JACSU Vice President Abdur Rashid (Jitu) confirmed that the student union, in cooperation with the university administration, is assisting both the victim’s family and law enforcement agencies to ensure justice. He emphasised the urgent need to determine the exact circumstances of the murder and to guarantee exemplary punishment for the culprits. Rashid also stressed the university’s responsibility to ensure maximum safety for students residing in and around the campus.
Sharmin Jahan, aged 23, a student of the 51st batch of the Department of Public Administration, was found dead in a rented house in Savar on Sunday afternoon. She was a native of Tetoiy village, Kachua Upazila, Chandpur District. Her husband, Fahim Al Hasan, son of Md. Hanif Sarkar from Khairul village, Muradnagar, Comilla, was initially detained for questioning and subsequently arrested under a case filed by Sharmin’s uncle, Monirul Islam.
Key Details of the Incident
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Victim | Sharmin Jahan, 23, Public Administration, Batch 51 |
| Location Found | Rented house, Savar, Dhaka |
| Hometown | Tetoiy, Kachua, Chandpur |
| Husband | Fahim Al Hasan, Khairul, Muradnagar, Comilla |
| Legal Action | Fahim arrested following complaint by uncle Monirul Islam |
| Organisers of Protest | Jahangirnagar University Research Council Family |
| Student Leaders Present | Abdur Rashid (VP, JACSU), Ahsan Labib, Sohagi Samia |
The demonstrations highlighted students’ collective demand for a speedy and transparent judicial process, as well as enhanced security measures to protect those living and studying within and around the university campus.