The High Court on Wednesday ordered the authorities at Islamic University in Kushtia to expel five of its students who were found to be involved in the torture and humiliation of a first-year student at Deshratno Sheikh Hasina Hall.
The court also directed the university to relieve Deshratno Sheikh Hasina Hall Provost Shamsul Alam, the house tutor, and several others of their duties. The hall provost was withdrawn from his duties later in the day.
The five students are IU Chhatra League Vice President Sanjida Chowdhury Ontora of the statistics department, and activists Tabassum Islam of the finance and banking department, Israt Zahan Meem of the law department, Halima Khatun Urmi of the fine arts department and Moabiya of the finance and banking department.
The five students would not be allowed to take part in academic activities or stay on campus, the court ruled.
Besides, it asked the IU authorities to allot the victim, Fulpori Khatun, a dormitory room as per her choice.
In the wake of the High Court order, Bangladesh Chhatra League has also expelled IU unit Vice President Sanjida Chowdhury Ontora, as well as its activists Tabassum Islam, Israt Zahan Meem, Halima Khatun Urmi and Moabiya Jahan.
A press release signed by Chhatra League President Saddam Hussain and General Secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan was issued in this regard yesterday afternoon.
Chhatra League made the decision against them for violating rules and regulations, breaching discipline, and tarnishing the organization's image, said the press release.
They took the decision two days after the probe body formed by the Islamic University unit Chhatra League unit sent its investigation report to them through email.
On Tuesday, Chhatra League carried out processions and rallies at all educational institutions against ragging and sexual harassment.
The High Court issued the order yesterday following a probe report submitted by a judicial inquiry committee formed in this regard.
The committee found that the victim had been tortured brutally and inhumanely, and the university authorities had failed to act properly.
The judicial inquiry committee formed to probe the torture of Fulpori Khatun, a student of Islamic University, submitted a probe report before the High Court bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Raziq Al Jalil on Tuesday.
The inquiry committee found the involvement of six people in the incident and said the hall provost and house tutor had completely failed to perform their responsibilities.
The university proctor also showed negligence and indifference in discharging his duties, says the report.
According to the report, after being tortured, the victim was forced to sign a bond.
Two probe bodies were formed by the IU authorities and the Deshratno Sheikh Hasina Hall administration afterwards.
The probe bodies submitted their reports to the university administration on Sunday.
The five were expelled from Deshratno Sheikh Hasina Hall on Monday as the hall authorities found their involvement in the assault on Fulpori.