JU expels 22 BCL activists

The Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have decided to expel 22 Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists and cancel the certificate of another in connection with a factional clash on the campus.

Registrar Abu Bakar Siddique said the decision was taken at a Syndicate meeting on Saturday night.

"Altogether 23 students have been variously punished for the incident," he said but declined to name them until an official order was issued.

BCL is the student affiliate of the ruling Awami League.

On Aug 20, a BCL faction of the university's Maulana Bhasani Hall unit attacked another in a turf war, leaving several students injured.

Sixteen students were suspended two days later for the violence.

A committee, led by anthropology department Prof Rasheda Akter, investigated the incident.

It submitted its findings after two months, and the university decided to take action against 23 students based on the report.

Five of them have been permanently expelled, seven others for two years, and three more for one year. Two others were rusticated for six months and another five for three months.

Moreover, the certificate of another has been cancelled and he has banned for life from the campus.

All of them have also been fined varying sums.

BCL's JU unit General Secretary Rajib Ahmed Rasel said they would talk to the central command and take steps against those punished.