DU VC given ultimatum to expel accused BCL men

A group of students of Dhaka University (DU) have demanded expulsion of leaders of ruling Awami League-backed Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) from the university, who are responsible for assaulting female students on Monday.

The agitating students, under the banner ‘Students Against Oppression’, demonstrated against the BCL men and formed a human chain near the Aparajeyo Bangla on Wednesday.

Leaders and activists of several left-leaning students’ organisations and students, who were demonstrating for DUCSU (Dhaka University Central Student's Union) polls, also joined the demonstration.

More than 300 demonstrating students laid siege to the office of the DU proctor AKM Golam Rabbani and kept him confined inside his office for four hours in the afternoon.

When the proctor came out of his office, the demonstrators said it was unacceptable the way BCL men assaulted the students, who were demonstrating on the campus demanding cancellation of the affiliation of seven colleges with the Dhaka University, in front of law enforcement on Monday.

They said there are video footages and photographs of the BCL leaders and activists who committed the crime. The demonstrators insisted that the perpetrators have to be expelled immediately.

The accused BCL leaders are DU’s Bangabandhu Hall unit general secretary Al-Amin Rahman, Sergeant Zahurul Haq Hall president Sohanur Rahman, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall general secretary Mehedi Hasan, Surya Sen Hall president Golam Sarwar, Rokeya Hall president BM Lipi Akhter, Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall president Benajir Hossain, Bangladesh-Kuwait Friendship Hall general secretary Sraboni Shaila and Kobi Sufia Kamal Hall president Sharjia Sharmin Shampa.

The students also demanded that the authorities must form a committee, including two representatives of students, by 24-hour about the permanent expulsion of the perpetrators.

The proctor sought half an hour time and held a meeting with other members of the proctorial body. After half an hour, he said to the demonstrating students, “I shall form an investigation committee and take steps to ensure proper punishment of the perpetrators.”

He, however, said the proctorial body needs to go through a process.

But the students, calling proctor AKM Golam Rabbani a failure, chanted slogans demanding his resignation.

The proctor, then, said to them, “I am saying the perpetrators will be brought to book within seven days.”

Golam Rabbani then led students to the vice-chancellor’s office.

Vice-chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman also mentioned about a ‘process’ for expelling anyone.

Mass communication journalism department student Masud Al Mahdi said, “The trial of the murder of student Abu Bakr, Salimullah Muslim dormitory student Hafizur Molla, who was allegedly killed by BCL men, and several incidents of sexual harassments are trapped in such process.”

He demanded a clear answer from the VC.

In reply, vice-chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman said, “Nothing can be done whimsically. Today, you are seeking someone’s expulsion, if I yield to that demand, another person will come tomorrow. This is not a process. Some principles have to be followed to expel someone.”

He, however, assured students about forming a probe body within 24-hour.

Later, the students announced to go for tougher programmes if actions against the accused were not taken by Sunday.

On last Thursday, Dhaka University students started demonstrating on the campus demanding cancellation of the affiliation of seven colleges with the university.

Amid demonstrations on Monday, the BCL presidents and general secretaries of the hall units warned the students of dire consequences should they take part in any agitation programmes to this end.

They allegedly beat up the coordinator of the agitating students, Moshiur Rahman, inside the university proctor’s office.

Later, the university’s proctorial body handed him over to the police. This prompted the students to demonstrate further.