8 Jahangirnagar University students suspended over BCL leader's murder

Jahangirnagar University authorities have suspended eight students over the murder of former Bangladesh Chhatra League leader Shamim Molla.

Acting Registrar Prof ABM Azizur Rahman said a committee has been formed to investigate the incident. The suspensions were based on a preliminary report from the proctorial body regarding the untimely death of Shamim, an alumnus of the history department from the 39th batch.

The suspended students are Mohammad Rajon Mia and Raju Mia from the government and politics, Mahmudul Hasan from english, Jubayer Ahmed and Hamidullah Salman from history, Atiquzzaman Atik from management, Sohag Mia from computer science and engineering, and Ahsan Labib from genetic engineering departments.

They were suspended under section 3(2)(c) of the 2018 disciplinary regulations for the university’s students.

The six-strong investigation committee, chaired by Prof Swadhin Sen from the Department of Archaeology, also includes Deputy Registrar Lutfor Rahman Arif as the member secretary. Other members are Prof Muhammad Tarek Chowdhury from the Department of Philosophy, Prof Emran Jahan and Prof Anisha Parvin from the Department of History, and Associate Prof Amina Islam from the Department of Journalism and Media Studies.

Shamim, also known as Molla Shamim, a former organisational secretary of the university’s BCL chapter, was handed over to police by the proctorial body on Wednesday evening after being beaten. He was declared dead around 9:15pm at the hospital.

Amid widespread discussion and criticism on social media, the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement at Jahangirnagar University announced the dismissal of one member in a press release on Thursday afternoon.

Shamim had been accused of leading an attack on protesters during the quota reform movement at the university on Jul 15.

He also faced multiple charges related to aiding land-grabbing and drug trafficking.

Following Shamim's death, students staged protests on campus, condemning what they called extrajudicial killings and demanded justice.