Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) detained 12 buses of Itihas Paribahan on Monday over allegations that a bus worker tried to physically harass a female student and behaved rudely with her.

The student's classmates stopped the buses at the university's Dairy Gate, beside the Dhaka-Aricha Highway, around noon, demanding action against the accused worker.

The victim, a student of the 2024-25 academic session (54th batch), said she boarded a bus on Sunday to go home but returned to campus following disruptions caused by garment workers' protests.

She later boarded an Itihas Paribahan bus after crossing the road.

She alleged that the conductor charged her Tk 20 instead of the fixed student fare of Tk 10 for the Hemayetpur-JU route. He also asked her to get off without stopping at the designated point.

When she asked him to stop the bus, he behaved rudely and tried to touch her, she said. He stopped after she shouted. She further alleged that he verbally abused her and another person accompanying her after they got off the bus.

Following the incident, her classmates detained the buses and demanded punishment for the accused worker.

Assistant Proctor Shayla Sharmin Setu visited the spot after being informed.

"Such incidents are not new. We receive similar complaints frequently despite repeated warnings to bus operators. We will take action under the existing rules and seek police assistance if necessary," she said.

JU Proctor Prof Md Abdul Halim said the university authorities had called the bus owner and the accused helper for talks.

"The student wants the helper to apologise and ensure that he does not behave this way with any female student in future. She does not want anyone to lose their livelihood over the incident," he said.