First-year students of Jahangirnagar University today (21 November) issued a 48-hour ultimatum to authorities concerned to arrest the battery-run rickshaw driver who fled after fatally hitting Asfsana Rachi, a first-year student at the university.
They issued the ultimatum at a rally near the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and warned of a stricter programme from Sunday (23 November) if the rickshaw driver is arrested.
The students earlier brought out a torch procession protesting Asfsana’s death.
“We believe it is a systemic murder. Our sister was killed because of the continuation of the irregularities that existed during the fascist era. It has not even been a month since we started staying on the campus. She was supposed to visit her hometown this Thursday. Her parents never imagined that they would instead receive her body,” Mohammad Ali, one of the protesters and a first-year student of the university’s English Department, said at the rally.
He stated that the students had presented a 11-point demand after Asfsana’s death.
The demands included arresting the rickshaw driver responsible. “It’s been 48 hours since her death, but no police came to the campus to investigate the accident. We have not seen any effective steps so far.”
Rachi’s classmate Jannatunnisa Mim said, “We will not return to class until Rachi’s killer is brought to book. If the maximum punishment for the murderer is not ensured, we will stop all my institutional activities if necessary.”
Afsana Rachi, a student of the Marketing Department, died on Tuesday evening after being hit by a batter-run rickshaw near the Shaheed Minar adjacent to the New Arts Building of JU.
The university administration has suspended four officials over the incident and banned battery-run rickshaws, easy bikes, and motorcycles within the campus following students’ protest yesterday.
The protesting students also presented several demands, including the installation of CCTV cameras within three working days, actions against vehicles with illegal licenses, taking necessary steps for valid licence holders by 26 November (including issuing cards), widening the roads, and forming a high-level committee for the overall improvement of the Medical Centre within five working days.
The students also demanded that the authorities provide compensation in consultation with Afsana’s family and establish first-aid facilities in each hall.
