BCL expels Sufia Kamal Hall VP Morsheda, 23 others over Isha incidents

After withdrawing the expulsion of Iffat Jahan Isha, Bangladesh Chhatra League has now expelled Morsheda Khanam and 23 other leaders for ‘assaulting’ the Dhaka University’s Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall unit president.

The ruling Awami League’s student affiliate expelled Isha amid quota reform protests immediately after allegations surfaced that she tortured Morsheda on Apr 10.

When a group of former leaders of the organisation threw their support behind Isha, a philosophy student, following the reported assault on her, it withdrew her expulsion and opened an investigation on Apr 13.

BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag told bdnews24.com on Monday the new expulsions followed the report of the committee formed to investigate the Isha affair.

Isha suffered the assault after Morsheda, BCL’s Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall unit vice-president, was reportedly tortured by the unit’s president.

A photo of Morsheda’s bloodied foot went viral on the social media. So did a video of the assault on Isha.

Those supporting Isha say Morsheda cut her foot herself by kicking a window glass.

“They have been expelled for their involvement in the unexpected incident at the Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall,” the BCL notice expelling the 24 reads.

Asked what the ‘unexpected’ incident was, Sohag told bdnews24.com: “They were involved in beating up Isha. They have been expelled following investigation.”

The others expelled on Monday include BCL central committee’s Literary Affairs Secretary Khaleda Hossain Moon, hall unit vice presidents Atiqa Haque Swarna and ‘Mira’, Organising Secretary Jannati Akter Sumi, Joint General Secretary Sharmin Akter Sumi, Assistant Secretary ‘Sraboni’ and Deputy Information and Research Secretary ‘Asha’.

Former BCL leaders visited Isha's home after the assault.

Moon told bdnews24.com she left the hall a year ago and is doing a job in Cox’s Bazar for 11 months.

“I came to my aunt’s home in Dhaka this month. How could the (BCL investigators) found my involvement?” she wondered.

Moon, Isha’s predecessor in the hall, said no one of the four-member investigation committee of the BCL contacted her.

The four members of the committee are BCL vice presidents Nishita Iqbal Nadi and Nusrat Jahan Nupur, Dhaka University unit President Abid Al Hasan and General Secretary Motaher Hossain Prince.

Khaleda Hossain Moon. Photo: Facebook

Prince had earlier said video footages and information proved that BCL leaders and activists of the hall had assaulted Isha.

Moon said ‘Monira’, another expelled BCL worker, was in India while Asha broke her hand some days ago. “How could she beat up Isha with her broken arm?” she asked.

Moon also claimed the BCL leaders expelled her because she had ‘angered them by telling the truth’.