Police offer reward in JU'rape attempt' probe

Police have announced a reward for information on a suspect accused of an attempted rape at Jahangirnagar University (JU), urging the public to help identify the individual seen in CCTV footage.

Police Headquarters issued an urgent public awareness message on Saturday
Law enforcement said they were working to identify the man linked to the attack on a female student.

Anyone with information about his identity, location or involvement has been asked to contact WhatsApp number 01320-089305.

Police assured that informants' identities would be kept strictly confidential and credible information would be rewarded.

The incident occurred on Tuesday night after 11pm near the expanded area of old Fazilatunnesa Hall and Al-Beruni Hall, where a female student was allegedly dragged into nearby bushes and subjected to an attempted assault.

The following morning, the university's security branch deputy registrar Md Jefrul Hasan Chowdhury filed a case with Ashulia Police, naming unknown individuals for "attempted rape and attempted murder".

At a press briefing on Friday evening, Proctor AKM Rashidul Alam said CCTV analysis showed the suspect remained on campus for about four and a half hours before the incident, moving across multiple locations.

According to CCTV footage, the man entered the campus at 6:58pm through the Bishmail Gate beside the Dhaka-Aricha highway. He then moved past Jahangirnagar University School and College, reached Prantik Gate via Bachelor Quarter Mor at around 7:15pm, and later walked towards Chowrangi after passing the Women's Club and Kolotan Bidyaniketan.

He was seen entering the dirt road north of Padma Pond at 7:31pm, exiting at 7:43pm, and later re-entering the same area in a footage. At 8:07pm, he moved through Chowrangi and the medical centre area to Shahid Salam-Barkat Hall junction, later returning to the transport zone.

The proctor said the suspect repeatedly moved around the incident area between 9:30pm and 10:16pm, including visits near AFM Kamaluddin Hall and Shaheed Salam-Barkat (SSB) Hall junction. He was again seen near the transport zone at 9:30pm.

Between 10:20pm and 10:54pm, he moved through Chowrangi, the female dormitory road, Shaheed Minar and the old administrative building before returning to the transport area.

He was later seen heading again toward the incident site at 10:54pm, returning to SSB Hall at 11:01pm.    �"bdnews24