Amid controversy surrounding the torture of a female student at the hands of Chhatra League leaders at Islamic University (IU) in Kushtia, another allegation was made against a leader of the organization of forcefully occupying a room and ragging at Begum Badrunnessa Government Girls' College in Old Dhaka.
The incident took place in room No 2007 on Saturday afternoon. The general secretary of the college unit of Chhatra League, Habiba Akhter Symoon, wanted to evict a student from that room. The goal was to allow another girl who was loyal to her to occupy that room.
However, when the girls in that room protested, she got angry and vandalized their belongings.
Laiju Akhter, the victim, claimed that Symoon was trying to vacate their room unfairly. Her followers were still in the room and trashing their belongings, she said late on Saturday.
“When I tried to record the video of the incident, they pushed me and tried to take away my mobile phone,” she said.
In a video shot by Laiju, a few students were seen entering the room. One of them said nothing can be said against Symoon's decision.
In response, Laiju said: “Why can we not say anything? If she takes care of us with discipline, we will definitely accept it. But if she creates chaos, commits acts of ragging, mentally tortures us, why can we not protest?”
Bangla TribuneAnother video showed some students forcing their way into room 2007 and trashing the belongings of the students. When Laiju Akhter tried to record the video, the students tried to take away Laiju's phone but failed. Later, they left the room.
When contacted, Habiba Akhter Symoon denied the allegation and said rumours are being spread against her.
“Why would I torture someone? Did you see any signs of abuse?” she asked.
“The seats of some students were changed by the hall administration. I am not involved in it,” she said.
Earlier, Fulpori Khatun, a first-year student at Islamic University (IU), was tortured and humiliated by IU Chhatra League Vice President Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts at Deshratno Sheikh Hasina Hall on February 12.
Chhatra League expelled the five from the organization, and the university also suspended them.
Meanwhile, when there was an uproar across the country over that incident, Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, announced an “Awareness Campaign Against Ragging and Sexual Harassment on Campus” program.
On February 25, the organization issued a notification saying ragging, sexual harassment and racism disrupt the progress of students on the path of beauty and creativity.