Police sources and insiders from the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Chittagong University have stated that the individuals who sexually assaulted a female student on the campus on the night of July 17 are members of the organization.
An anonymous officer from the Hathazari Police Station told The Daily Star that investigators have gathered from witnesses and substantial evidence that the accused individuals are Chhatra League activists, although their faces could not be identified from CCTV footage.
According to the CU Proctor Office, the university has approximately 135 CCTV cameras installed on campus. However, the office noted that only about half of these surveillance cameras are equipped with night vision capabilities.
Ruhul Amin, officer-in-charge of Hathazari Model Police Station, stated, "We are working to arrest those involved in the incident. However, their identities could not be confirmed, as CCTV footage is not clear and of poor quality. But my teams are working and we are hoping to get results soon."
He, however, declined to comment on the involvement of BCL men until the investigation is complete.
Meanwhile, teachers and students of the university alleged that the CU administration has been negligent in involving law enforcement authorities.
Following the incident, former leaders of CU BCL took to their Facebook profiles to criticise the roles of the current Chhatra League leaders and demand exemplary punishment for the abusers.
The victim, a first-year student in the Arts Faculty, filed a case against unidentified individuals under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act at the Hathazari Police Station on Wednesday night.
In the case statement, she stated that on Sunday night, a group of five men forcibly transported her and her friend from Hotashar Mor to the Botanical Garden.
The attackers initially beat the two victims before tying up the plaintiff and sexually assaulting her. When her friend attempted to intervene and rescue her, the perpetrators stole one of their mobile phones and fled the scene.
Before filing a case with the police, the victim filed a complaint with the proctorial body.
Instead of taking measures to punish the perpetrators, the CU administration instructed female students to return to their dormitories by 10:00 pm "to avoid such situations."
CU students stated that the proctorial body failed to inform the police about the sexual assault, which constitutes a criminal offence, even after receiving a formal complaint.
Proctor Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan refuted the allegation, stating that authorities had informed the police, but the victim was initially unwilling to cooperate.
The student victim reported the incident to officials on Monday morning, a day after it occurred. Administrators immediately began reviewing CCTV footage, but because the student could not recall the exact time of the event, they advised her to contact the police. She responded that she would consider the suggestion.
"When she agreed, me and two assistant proctors took her took her to the police station."
There was no negligence on the university authority's end, he added.
Protests against the incident began on Wednesday night, as hundreds of female resident students laid siege to the vice chancellor's office.
They also placed a four-point demand, which included an assurance of justice and punishment for the attackers within four working days, as well as round-the-clock security for all students.
The protesters further demanded the proctorial body step down if it failed to bring justice within four days.
The female students also asked the administration to properly investigate all the complaints filed with the CU Sexual Harassment Prevention Cell.
Yesterday morning, hundreds of students from CU's chemistry department staged a demonstration in front of the university's administrative building starting at approximately 11:00 am.
Operating under the banner of Progotishil Chhatra Jote and General Students of CU, the students also staged a procession that started from the administrative building and proceeded toward the Central Shahid Minar.
Addressing the demonstrators, Vice Chancellor Shireen Akhter said the demands would be met as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the central unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) served a show-cause notice to Rezaul Haque Rubel, president of the Chittagong University (CU) unit of the BCL, a day after the incident, for violating the organisation's discipline.
According to Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) insiders, Rubel was served the notice because he had asked the victim not to file a formal complaint with the Chittagong University (CU) authorities.
Speaking to The Daily Star, Rubel said he was asked to show cause because he failed to discharge some of his organisational duties. "But my rivals are now trying to link me to this incident," he added.
He claimed he did not ask anyone not to file a complaint; instead, he directly informed the matter to an assistant proctor and an on-duty police official.
Iqbal Hossain Tipu, general secretary of CU BCL, told The Daily Star, "We demand exemplary punishment to the abusers. Their only identity is that they are abusers."
Former Chittagong University Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) president Md Alamgir Tipu stated, "Those who are directly involved should be punished both academically and legally. If any leader tried to cover up the incident, they should also be withdrawn from their post."
Fazle Rabbi Sugan, former general secretary of CU BCL, told The Daily Star, "As a former BCL leader, I am ashamed. BCL is a renowned organisation and always stands for student rights."
Authorities are now withholding information regarding the victim's current whereabouts. "She is in a safe place under our supervision," stated CU Proctor Robiul Islam. "We are providing everything she needs. However, for the sake of investigation, her location cannot be disclosed."
Why it matters
The assault highlights serious safety concerns for female students at Chittagong University and raises questions about campus accountability.