Online Desk: The authorities of Islamic University on Monday permanently expelled a former leader and four former activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League for torturing a new student on the campus. The decision was made at an emergency syndicate meeting of the university in the afternoon presided over by the IU vice-chancellor Professor Shaikh Abdus Salam.

The expelled students are Sanjida Chowdhury Antora, vice-president of the university unit BCL and a student of statistics department, and four activists Halima Akter Urmi of fine arts, Ishrat Jahan Mim of law, and Tabassum Islam and Mawabia Jahan of finance and banking. All of them are students of 2020-21 academic year except BCL leader Antara.

On July 16, the university administration expelled the five students from the university for one year as per the university law, but the High Court on July 26 scrapped the expulsion order as the punishment was not handed down in accordance with the university’s code of conduct. The court also asked the vice-chancellor of the university to re-fix the punishment following the university’s Student Code of Conduct 1987.

IU pro-vice-chancellor M Mahbubur Rahman, treasurer M Alamgir Hossain Bhuiya, acting registrar HM Ali Hasan, among others, attended the meeting. The victim Phulpori, a first-year student of finance and banking, lodged a written complaint with the university administration on February 14 alleging that Chhatra League leader Sanjida, activist Tabassum Islam and several others tortured her on the night of February 12 for staying at the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall without their “permission”.

In her complaint, she said they tortured her from 11:00pm until 3:30am. She also demanded punishment of those involved. The incident came to light after the victim left the hall and disclosed the matter to her seniors and her family members. Two probe bodies, formed by the Islamic University authorities to look into the matter, submitted their reports on February 26.

Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall administration expelled the five accused on February 27. On March 1, the Bangladesh Chhatra League expelled Antara and the four activists for torturing and humiliating the female student. Based on the probe report submitted by Kushtia district administration on February 28, the High Court bench on March 1 asked the university to expel the accused BCL leader and activists.

The court also asked the vice-chancellor and registrar of the university to immediately remove Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall provost Shamsul Alam and house tutors Moumita Akter and Ishrat Jahan for their alleged negligence that led to the ill-treatment of the victim.

The IU authorities later suspended the five accused students from the university as well as removed Shamsul Alam as provost of Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall. The university authorities had also notified Antara and her four associates asking them to submit their replies to the complaint in seven working days.

The university administration also allocated a seat to the female student in Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall on her choice following the High Court order. The decision of the meeting would be sent to the High Court by August 23.