Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) staged a midnight protest on Wednesday demanding justice over the attempted rape of a female student and alleging the university administration’s failure to ensure security on the campus.

More than a thousand students joined the demonstration that began around 11:30pm from the Tarzan Point area adjacent to the female dormitories and marched through different roads on the campus.

The protesters placed a five-point demand, including the arrest of the accused within 24 hours and speedy trial of the case, resignation of the entire proctorial body for failing to ensure security, immediate strengthening of campus security measures, recruitment of adequate female security personnel and inclusion of women members in the quick response team.

The students also demanded repair of faulty campus gates and formation of an effective quick response team to prevent harassment on the campus.

During the protest, divisions emerged among the demonstrators over the direction of the movement.

Students from different residential halls brought out another procession after 11:30pm demanding the arrest of the accused in the attempted rape incident that took place on Tuesday night.

The procession marched through key roads of the campus and later gathered in front of the proctor office, where protesters began chanting slogans and counter-slogans.

At one stage, many students left the programme in confusion. Later, protesters split into two groups again and took position in front of the administrative building, continuing slogans.

One group demanded the resignation of the vice-chancellor and proctor, while another group focused only on the arrest and exemplary punishment of the accused.

According to students, an outsider allegedly dragged a female student into a nearby jungle adjacent to the abandoned old Fazilatunnesa Hall and the extended part of Al Beruni Hall around 11:00pm on Tuesday and attempted to rape her.