BUET bans all political activities on campus, expels 19 students over Abrar murder

The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET has moved to ban all types of political activities on its campus and temporarily expelled 19 students with suspected ties to the murder of Abrar Fahad in keeping with the demands of student protesters.

Staff Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 11 Oct 2019, 12:16 PM
Updated : 11 Oct 2019, 07:51 PM

The decision was announced at the beginning of Vice-Chancellor Prof Saiful Islam’s meeting with a student delegation at the university’s auditorium around 5:30 pm on Friday following five days of demonstrations on the campus.

VC Prof Saiful admitted “some lacking” on his part in acting swiftly after Abrar was murdered. "I was found lacking. Being a father figure, I beg your mercy."

The VC said he had received the 10 demands raised by the protesters and promised to meet all of them.

He said the 19 accused in the Abrar murder case were suspended following information gathered from security camera footage.

“In addition, there will be no organisational politics at BUET,” he announced.

 

Saiful said BUET will bear the cost of the legal battle for Abrar murder justice and financially compensate his family.

“We will write to the government for a quick completion of the trial.

“Ragging will end at BUET,” he added.

The meeting chaired by Acting Registrar Saidur Rahman started with a minute's silence remembering Abrar in the crowded auditorium.

Directorate of Students’ Welfare Director Mizanur Rahman, Teachers’ Association President AKM Masud and deans of some faculties were onstage with VC Saiful.

A meeting at BUET between the VC and protesting students at its auditorium on Friday started with a minute's silence in honour of slain student Abrar Fahad. Photo: Abdullah Al Momin

The three-hour long meeting, however, ended without a decision by the protesters on their demonstration.

The students said the campus was not yet safe as leaders and activists of the student organisations of political parties were still in the residential halls despite suspension of the 19 accused.

They spoke in favour of deferring the admission tests scheduled for Oct 14.

DSW Director Mizanur urged the protesters not to hinder the admission tests snd said those residing in the halls will be driven out and raids will be conducted if necessary.

The protesters did not respond to the call immediately and said they would announce their decision later in the night.

Around 10:30pm, they came up with five conditions, which “can be realised in a short period of time”, to let the administration hold the admission tests as per the schedule, demanding written and detailed assurances that their previous demands would be met.

Their demonstration would continue until the 10-point charter of demand is implemented, a representative of the protesters said.  

 

The students launched the protests on Monday after Abrar was tortured to death allegedly by leaders of the ruling Awami League’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League in Sher-e-Bangla Hall on Sunday night.

The BCL operatives reportedly bludgeoned Abrar for his Facebook post protesting against a recent deal between Bangladesh and India. 

The protesters demanded capital punishment for the killers, identification and expulsion of the killers from the university, fast-tracked trial in a tribunal, publication of a copy of the charge-sheet in the case, and a ban on organisation-based politics in the university.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she is averse to the idea of banning politics in educational institutions altogether, but added BUET can separately enforce such a ban like many other institutions have.

Students demonstrate at the Central Shaheed Minar premises in Dhaka on Tuesday demanding justice over the murder of Abrar Fahad, a student of BUET, who was allegedly bludgeoned with blunt objects by BCL men. Photo: Asif Mahmud Ove

The others of the protesters’ 10-point charter of demand included explanation of the VC’s absence for 30 hours after the incident, statement of the teacher in charge of the DSW, expulsion of those involved in torturing students in the name of “ragging” and “suppressing dissent”.

The rest of the demands were withdrawal of Sher-e-Bangla Hall provost for his silence over the incidents of driving students out using political powers and his failure to ensure student security, payment of expenses for the legal battle and compensation for Abrar's family by the administration, and disclosure of all previous incidents of violence and the establishment of a common platform to regularly review complaints and institute immediate measures.

Some of the demands, including resignation of the hall provost, have already been met.

Police have so far arrested 18 students, including 14 BCL leaders out of 19 named in the Abrar murder case.

Police took to court detained 10 members of Bangladesh Chhatra League's BUET chapter on Tuesday, seeking a 10-day remand to grill them over the murder of Abrar Fahad, a student of the university.

VC Saiful, however, continued to face intense criticisms for his “failure” to act quickly following Abrar’s murder after failing to ensure safety of Abrar and other victims of torture by BCL leaders.

He faced the protesters' wrath when he came to the campus 30 hours after the incident on Tuesday.

The demonstrators laid a siege to his office for over four hours even though he agreed to their demands “in principle”.

He also faced public anger again when he went to meet Abrar’s family in Kushtia the following day. Angry residents of the area barred him from visiting Abrar’s home.

The associations of BUET’s teachers and alumni have demanded his resignation for his “failure” to perform his duties.

On Thursday, the protesters demanded a meeting with him and set a Friday deadline threatening to lock up the offices until the demands are met.