Theft alleged at two women's halls in Gopalganj university at dawn, wall and security steps planned

Theft has been alleged at two women's residential halls, Banlata and Aparajita, at Gopalganj Science and Technology University. According to students, the incident happened at around 4 a.m. on Wednesday (28 October).

Students said a man tried to take a laptop through a window at Banlata Hall. When students noticed and chased him, he dropped the laptop in mud and fled over the hall wall.

Students also reported an allegation that 2,600 taka was stolen from another student in the same hall.

At the same time, items including a burqa, earrings, a charger, earphones and a charger light were alleged to have been stolen at Aparajita Hall.

A Banlata Hall student, who did not want to be named, said she finished studying at around 2 a.m. and left her laptop on the table before sleeping. She woke at around 4 a.m. to shouting and then saw the laptop was gone from the table.

The student also said students woke the hall security staff after realising what had happened. When security staff and students chased together, the man dropped the laptop and fled.

Students suspect more than one person may have been involved. An allegation of touching students in sensitive places was also reported.

Banlata Hall provost Sanjida Haque said that after learning of the incident, the provosts and assistant provosts of both halls spoke in the morning with security staff and students. The vice-chancellor was also spoken to.

Sanjida Haque said the vice-chancellor told the hall provosts to arrange construction of a wall around the halls within the next week. He also spoke of arranging a room outside the halls for security staff. She said a security staff member could be punished for negligence of duty.

Aparajita Hall provost Rehana Parveen said there was negligence of duty by security staff of both halls. They have been given whistles so that in such a situation in the hall they can alert everyone by blowing a whistle or ringing a bell. She said the vice-chancellor directed the hall provosts to arrange construction of the remaining part of the hall wall and halogen lights for adequate lighting.

Assistant proctor Golam Sarwar said the proctorial body would inspect the matter on the spot. What fault each person had in the incident would be examined and next steps taken.