A group of students from Jahangirnagar University (JU) seized at least 37 buses of Rajdhani Paribahan yesterday afternoon in protest after a bus helper of the same transport allegedly harassed a female student of the university.

Witnesses said the students intercepted the buses in the afternoon and forced the drivers to park them in front of the university's main gate beside the Dhaka-Aricha highway, reports our JU correspondent.

Sahamina Akter Diti, a student from the 49th batch of the Comparative Literature and Culture Department, said the incident occurred around 3:15pm while she was travelling on a Rajdhani Paribahan bus.

In a written complaint submitted to the university's proctor, Diti explained, "Around 3:15pm, I boarded a Rajdhani Paribahan bus from the Joy Bangla Gate of the university to travel towards the Savar Palli Bidyut area. The bus helper started misbehaving with me over a fare-related issue and continued his inappropriate behaviour repeatedly."

Following the incident, JU students intercepted and seized the 37 buses, said Al-Amin, a student of the 50th batch from the same department.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Diti said, "After the bus helper misbehaved with me, I informed my friends through our messenger group. My classmates and other students then intercepted and seized the buses."

Later, around 8:30pm, university students held a discussion with representatives of the Bus Workers' Union in the presence of the university proctor.

Abu Hasan Sheikh, vice-president of the Bus Workers' Union, stated that the accused driver and helper apologized to the victim.

He also assured the students that the half-fare system for students would be implemented and measures taken to prevent passenger harassment.

The university authorities subsequently released all but one of the seized buses. "One bus remains seized as a student reported their mobile phone missing," said Abu Hasan Sheikh.

JU Proctor Professor AKM Rashidul Alam said the bus helper and driver assured the university that they would take appropriate action against the accused. They also promised to prevent such incidents in the future.

"