Cybercriminals harass RU female students on FB

Several obscene and malicious posts targeting female students of Rajshahi University (RU) have been uploaded in the recent past on eight to 10 anonymous pages of various Facebook groups These have names like ‘RU Crush & Hate Confession’, ‘Crush and Confusion, RU’ and ‘RU Crush And Confusion’. Around 20,000 to 25,000 people have followed these pages, most of them current and former students of the university. Most of the sources posted the derogatory content using fake Facebook IDs. These posts contain pictures that are derogatory, obscene, cause sexual harassment and intentionally harm the reputations of the respective students.

In one such instance, after the admin of one of these pages was warned, the posts were deleted. However, the damage had been done. The targeted female student was harassed mentally and socially and her reputation harmed.

There are around eight to 10 closed pages to which such derogatory comments and pictures have been uploaded without the identity of the sources being known.

When asked, the admin of a post told this correspondent: “We have no responsibility. Sources send us messages. We merely publish these.” Thanks to the apathy of the RU authorities, such cyber offenders are harassing female students of the campus with impunity. On receiving a screenshot from this reporter, RU proctor Prof. Dr Luthfor Rahman was agitated over the offensive activities carried out on these pages.

However, Sahadat Hossain, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Motihar police station, said, “If no one files any complaint, it isn’t possible for us to take action against the offenders.”

Student adviser, Prof. Dr Laila Arjuman Banu, said, “I don’t have any idea about such pages. No-one has filed any allegation before us. If anyone files an allegation against any page, we will take action.”

However, though a student has filed an allegation with the student advisor’s and proctor’s offices, no punitive action has been taken till today (Saturday).

In early 2018, RU Law Finders’ Association (RUALF), a voluntary organisation of the Law department, filed a written complaint with the RU administration but no step has been taken yet.

Former convener in charge of anti-sexual harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal), Prof Dr Mahbuba Kaniz Keya, became angry on hearing of the matter. “When I was the convener of the cell, I tried my best to know the source regardless of whether or not the victim filed an allegation. It they don’t file complaints out of fear, we still have to take action against the offenders.”

Prof Dr Hasibul Alam of the law department said, “Offences committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm, or loss, to the victim directly or indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks, such as internet networks, including chat rooms, emails, notice boards, groups and mobiles, will be considered cybercrimes.”

“Furthermore, if the harassment amounts to criminal intimidation (threatening another with any injury to his person, reputation, property, etc.) as per the Penal Code of 1860, then the person may be liable to punishment as per the Penal Code of 1860. However, our Parliament recently amended the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, 2006, raising the penalties for cybercrimes,” he added.

A spokesman of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Unit police said, “We have a cybercrimes team which deals with internet-based crimes. If anyone requests us, we will investigate the matter.”

University proctor Prof Dr Luthfor Rahman said, “We are trying our best to ensure the internet security of female students on the campus.”

Cybercriminals harass RU female students on FB

Several obscene and malicious posts targeting female students of Rajshahi University (RU) have been uploaded in the recent past on eight to 10 anonymous pages of various Facebook groups These have names like RU Crush Hate Confession, Crush and Confusion, RU and RU Crush And Confusion. Around 20,000 to 25,000 people have followed these pages, most of them current and former students of the university. Most of the sources posted the derogatory content using fake Facebook IDs. These posts contain pictures that are derogatory, obscene, cause sexual harassment and intentionally harm the reputations of the respective students. In one such instance, after the admin of one of these pages was warned, the posts were deleted. However, the damage had been done. The targeted female student was harassed mentally and socially and her reputation harmed. There are around eight to 10 closed pages to which such derogatory comments and pictures have been uploaded without the identity of the sources being known. When asked, the admin of a post told this correspondent: We have no responsibility. Sources send us messages. We merely publish these. Thanks to the apathy of the RU authorities, such cyber offenders are harassing female students of the campus with impunity. On receiving a screenshot from this reporter, RU proctor Prof. Dr Luthfor Rahman was agitated over the offensive activities carried out on these pages. However, Sahadat Hossain, the officer-in-charge (OC) of Motihar police station, said, If no one files any complaint, it isnt possible for us to take action against the offenders. Student adviser, Prof. Dr Laila Arjuman Banu, said, I dont have any idea about such pages. No-one has filed any allegation before us. If anyone files an allegation against any page, we will take action. However, though a student has filed an allegation with the student advisors and proctors offices, no punitive action has been taken till today (Saturday). In early 2018, RU Law Finders Association (RUALF), a voluntary organisation of the Law department, filed a written complaint with the RU administration but no step has been taken yet. Former convener in charge of anti-sexual harassment (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal), Prof Dr Mahbuba Kaniz Keya, became angry on hearing of the matter. When I was the convener of the cell, I tried my best to know the source regardless of whether or not the victim filed an allegation. It they dont file complaints out of fear, we still have to take action against the offenders. Prof Dr Hasibul Alam of the law department said, Offences committed against individuals or groups of individuals with a criminal motive to intentionally harm the reputation of the victim or cause physical or mental harm, or loss, to the victim directly or indirectly, using modern telecommunication networks, such as internet networks, including chat rooms, emails, notice boards, groups and mobiles, will be considered cybercrimes. Furthermore, if the harassment amounts to criminal intimidation (threatening another with any injury to his person, reputation, property, etc.) as per the Penal Code of 1860, then the person may be liable to punishment as per the Penal Code of 1860. However, our Parliament recently amended the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, 2006, raising the penalties for cybercrimes, he added. A spokesman of the Rajshahi Metropolitan Unit police said, We have a cybercrimes team which deals with internet-based crimes. If anyone requests us, we will investigate the matter. University proctor Prof Dr Luthfor Rahman said, We are trying our best to ensure the internet security of female students on the campus.