The authorities of Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia today (Mar 4) suspended five of its students, including a leader and four activists of the university unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League for their involvement in torturing and intimidating a first year female student of the finance and banking department.

The decision was made in an emergency meeting on Saturday by the university’s student disciplinary committee on the campus in Kushtia. 

Earlier on March 1, the High Court ordered the suspension of five female students of IU in line with the investigation report on their involvement in ragging a first year student.

At the same time, the court also asked to withdraw IU provost of Sheikh Hasina Hall Dr Shamsul Alam immediately.

A HC bench comprising Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order.  

The five expelled students - Sanjida Chowdhury Antara, -of Statistics Department, Fine Arts student Halima Akhter Urmi, Israt Jahan Meem of Law Department, Finance and Banking students Tabassum Islam and Moabiya have been asked to refrain from all kinds of educational activities and stay out of the campus until further notice.

After hearing the matter, the court also ordered the two investigation reports to be sealed and sent to the university authorities.
 
On the basis of the reports, the University was ordered to take action against the involved students and the hall-administration officials for neglecting their duties, as per the law and rules of the university.

The concerned law enforcement forces have been directed to collect the mobile phone of Halima Akhtar Urmi, who recorded torturing the victim during the incident, to retrieve the video and submit it to the court.

Besides, the court also directed the university and hall authorities, including the SP of Kushtia and Pabna, to allot a seat to the victim in the residential hall within three days, and to ensure the safety of her and the witnesses of the incident.

The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University have been directed to report on this order by May 8.

BDST: 1532 HRS, MAR 04, 2023
MN/SMS