Student groups at Jahangirnagar University remained divided on Monday over the university administration’s handling of campus security following an alleged attempted rape of a female student, with trade demonstrations reflecting growing tensions over accountability and protest tactics.

A faction of students continued demonstrations demanding the resignation of university proctor Professor AKM Rashidul Alam, accusing the administration of failing to ensure a safe campus and arrest the accused more than five days after the incident.

The protesters continued blocking of the university’s administrative building throughout Sunday and vowed to continue their protests until the university proctor resigned.

Sanjida Nur, one of the protesters, said the administration had failed to arrest the suspect and had therefore ‘lost the moral ground’ to remain in office.

The protests stem from an incident on May 12 in which an outsider allegedly attacked and attempted to rape a female student near the university’s abandoned Fazilatunnesa Hall area, triggering widespread anger among students.

However, not all student groups backed the campaign targeting the administration.

A separate human chain and protest rally was held at the university’s central Shaheed Minar on Monday noon demanding the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the accused while condemning what participants described as abusive behaviour and inappropriate language used against university vice-chancellor Professor Kamrul Ahsan and proctor Rashidul Alam.

Participants chanted slogans calling for justice for the victim and protesting what they described as insults directed at the proctor Rashidul Alam and the vice-chancellor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan.

Emon Molla, a student of the environmental sciences department, condemned the alleged attack on the female student and expressed frustration over the failure to arrest the suspect several days after the incident.

He said the gathering was organised in support of justice for the victim rather than to advance any political agenda, and accused some groups of attempting to divert the movement to a different direction.

‘We have always known Jahangirnagar University as a peaceful campus. We call on students to remain united for justice and cooperate with the administration to ensure a safe campus,’ he said.

Kamal Pasha, another environmental sciences student, demanded swift punishment for the accused but criticised what he described as discourteous conduct and abusive language directed at teachers and the proctor during protests.

He said movements seeking justice should not be used as tools for political agendas.

JU central students union also held a human chain on Monday demanding justice of the attempted rape case and swift arrest of the accused.

Tanvir Rahman, transport affairs secretary of the university’s central student union, said students were frustrated by the lack of visible progress in the investigation more than five days after the incident.

He also alleged that some groups had shifted focus from the movement’s original demands and were attempting to pursue political objectives.

The divisions widened after some protesters allegedly used abusive language toward Proctor Rashidul Alam outside the proctor office on Sunday night, with some students accusing demonstrators of attempting physical intimidation.

Resident students of AFM Kamaluddin Hall also protested remarks directed at Rashidul Alam, who also serves as the hall’s provost, condemning the use of abusive language against him.

The competing demonstrations underscore growing disagreements among student groups over whether the focus should remain on demanding administrative accountability for campus safety failures or on supporting the administration while pressing for the suspect’s arrest and prosecution.