Islamic University’s Chhatra League unit expels 5 activists for torturing student

They were accused of locking a first-year student in a room at a residential hall and abusing her physically for nearly four hours

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 1 March 2023, 11:53 AM
Updated : 1 March 2023, 11:53 AM

The Bangladesh Chhatra League unit of the Islamic University in Kushtia has expelled of its five leaders and activists for their involvement in the torture of a student at the university’s Desratna Sheikh Hasina Hall.

The expelled leaders are - Islamic University Chhatra League Vice President Sanjida Antora Chowdhury and her associates Tabassum Islam, Mawabia Jahan, Ishrat Jahan Mimi, and Halima Akhtar Urmi.

The High Court ordered the university authorities to immediately suspend the five involved in the abuse of the student, and also withdraw the provost of the hall where the incident took place.

Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain said the student wing of the ruling Awami League acted against the five following the investigation report submitted by the organisation’s Islamic University unit and orders issued by the High Court.

“The incident appeared to be a criminal offence to us,” he said.

Chhatra League issued the statement announcing the punishment hours after a High Court bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil ordered the suspension of the five Chhatra League activists and the withdrawal of the hall provost by the university.

It also asked the university authorities to take punitive measures against the officials charged with negligence of duty.

On Tuesday, the university banned the accused students from the residential hall.

The victim said the Chhatra League leaders also undressed her and filmed her in that state. In addition to the physical and mental torture, they also threatened to kill her if she reported the incident to anyone.

Following the incident, the distraught student left the university and went home. On Feb 14, she sent a written complaint to the university proctor and the student advisor’s office.

Students staying in the common room at Desratna Sheikh Hasina Hall left due to fear, said Rumana Jannat, a first-year student in the English Department. She says she left the common room with the rest of the students.

In her complaint, the victim alleged that she was summoned by a senior from her department to a room but could not be there on time due to illness.

Since then, Chhatra League activists harassed and threatened to force her out of the hall. She says they confronted her about lodging at the hall without their approval, although she was only staying as a guest.

On Feb 11, a group of eight to nine activists took her to the common room and began to slap her. They threatened her too.

When she tried to apologise, they kicked and swore at her, and choked her with a towel. They then undressed her and filmed the incident.

They threatened to spread the video on social media if she complained about the attack.