23 JU students expelled, fined Tk 950,000

A total of 23 Jahangirnagar University (JU) students have been expelled for varying terms for engaging in clashes in August to establish dominance in and around the campus. All the punished students belong to Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the ruling party’s student affiliate. The university authorities have also fined them Tk 950,000 over the fierce clash between two factions of the BCL. According to witnesses, BCL activists loyal to JU unit President Mahmudur Rahman and Maulana Bhasani Hall unit General Secretary Aninda Baroi attacked the supporters of hall unit President Rajib Ahmed in the early hours of Aug 20, leaving several students injured. On Aug 22, the authorities temporarily suspended 16 BCL activists. They also formed a five-member committee, led by anthropology department teacher Prof Rasheda Aktar, to look into the incident. The administration took the decision to expel and fine 23 students at a Syndicate meeting based on the investigation committee's report submitted after two months. Apart from the fine, five students were expelled permanently, seven for two years, three for one year, two for six months and five for three months. It also cancelled both honours and masters certificates of former physics department student Russell Mahmud. Withdrawal of his provisional certificates was also ordered and he has been banned from entering the campus in future, JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique has said.