Protests erupted on the Jahangirnagar University campus on Wednesday, demanding justice for the death of a female student who was hit by a battery-run auto-rickshaw on Tuesday.
As part of their protest programme, the students of the university enforced an all-out blockade on the campus on the day.
Since Wednesday morning, the students had blocked all entrances to the university, preventing vehicles from entering the campus.
The classmates of the deceased, Afsana Karim Rachi, a first-year student under the 2023-24 academic session, also boycotted all classes and examinations indefinitely in protest at her tragic death.
鈥楾he university administration failed to ensure students鈥� safety, and they must be held accountable for this death,鈥� said protesting student Taroni Shefat Maisa.
She also criticised the university鈥檚 medical centre for its inadequate facilities and called for upgradation of the centre with modern technology.
Afsana Karim Rachi, a fresher, tragically died on Tuesday night after being hit by a battery-run auto-rickshaw near the University Shaheed Minar, next to the New Arts Building on the campus.
Following her death, students organised a procession and laid siege to the residence of the university vice-chancellor, professor Kamrul Ahsan, on the night.
Different student organisations, including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir, and others joined the protests by issuing statements, and demanding justice for the death.
In response to the protests, the university authorities suspended four staff members, including a deputy registrar, for alleged negligence.
The suspended employees are, Md Abdur Rahman, head of the estate office and deputy registrar, security officer Russell Mia, assistant supervisor of transport office Abdus Salam, and on-duty guard Mansur Rahman Pramanik.
They have been accused of failing to control unregistered vehicles on the campus, the university sources said.
The university administration declared a day of mourning on Wednesday in memory of the deceased student, cancelling all classes and examinations, the sources said.
Transport services were also suspended for the day, according to a notice from the university.
Additionally, the university banned battery-operated rickshaws on the campus and introduced shuttle bus services for internal transportation.
JU pro-vice-chancellor for administrative affairs, professor Sohel Ahmed, confirmed that the rickshaw driver responsible for the accident had been identified through CCTV footage.
鈥榃e went to his home in Gerua village, but he was not there. We will take immediate action and finalise our decision about the ban on battery-operated rickshaws on the campus,鈥� he said.
Terming the death as tragic, JU vice-chancellor professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan stated that the administration was committed to ensuring a safer campus to prevent similar incidents in the future.