BCL leader, four activists expelled from dormitory over IU student torture

PBC NEWS DESK: A leader and four activists of Islamic University (IU) unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student organisation of ruling Awami League, were expelled from Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on Monday as the hall authorities found their involvement in the assault on a fresher of the university.

The decision was taken in an emergency meeting of the Sheikh Hasina Hall administration with its provost Prof M Shamsul Islam in the chair on Monday afternoon.

The expelled students are–IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora of statistics department and her associates Tabassum and Maobiya of finance and banking department, Halima Khatun Urmi of fine arts department and Israt Jahan Mim of law department.

IU Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall provost Prof Shamsul Islam said that they expelled Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and four others as the probe body formed by the hall administration found their involvement in torturing and threatening the fresher student.

On February 12 night, a first-year female student of finance and banking department was tortured and intimidated reportedly by IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her associates, including Tabassum, Israt Jahan Mim, Halima Khatun Urmi and Maobiya, at Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall on the university campus in Kushtia.

The incident came to light after the victim left the hall and disclosed the matter to her seniors and her family members the next day.

The BCL leader also threatened that she would release a video on social media if the student disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complainant.

The victim on February 14 lodged a written complaint with the university administration, including the proctor and the student adviser of the university and the hall provost, demanding punishment to those perpetrated the torture and humiliation.

Two probe bodies were formed by the Islamic University authorities and the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall administration respectively after the victim had lodged complaints to them.

The probe bodies submitted their reports to the university administration on Sunday.A writ petition was also filed by Gazi Mohammad Mohsin, an alumnus of the university and a lawyer, with the High Court.

The Kushtia district administration, meanwhile, formed a three-member inquiry committee, led by additional district magistrate ANM Abujar Gifari, and asked it to submit the inquiry report within seven days following a High Court order on February 20.

The Kushtia district administration, meanwhile, formed a three-member inquiry committee, led by additional district magistrate ANM Abujar Gifari, and asked it to submit the inquiry report within seven days following a High Court order on February 20.Accused BCL leader Ontora and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order.