The Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities have temporarily expelled five students of marketing for their involvement in assaulting the assistant proctor of the university.
The five - Faisal Rabbi Riyad, Anik Shovon Bala, Aminur Rahman Toki, Md Sumon and Arif Ahmed Mafi - were in their third year of study.
The decision to expel them was taken at an emergency meeting of the university syndicate held at the residence of the vice-chancellor yesterday night.
A five-member committee led by Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Abul Hossain was formed to investigate the assault on Sikder Md Zulkernine, also an assistant professor of archaeology, on Wednesday when he went to the Department of Marketing for questioning Faisal over a recent crude bomb blast in front of the vice-chancellor’s residence.
Faisal and Anik were later handed over to Ashulia police.
Md Hanif Ali, a syndicate member and a professor of computer science and engineering, told the Dhaka Tribune the five students were expelled in light of the disciplinary board’s recommendation.
Unidentified miscreants set off a crude bomb in front of the residence of the vice-chancellor, Professor Dr Farzana Islam, on January 19.
Chhatra Dal leader of the university Wasim Ahmed Anik was detained after the explosion.
But the proctorial body suspected Faisal’s involvement in the blast which is why Zulkernine and some other teachers went to the department on Wednesday to grill him.
The students who were expelled tried to resist the teachers while Anik assaulted Zulkernine, source said.
Meanwhile, the university unit of Chhatra League demonstrated on the campus yesterday protesting the countrywide general strike and blockade imposed by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.
Over a hundred Chhatra League activists marched at the transport area of the university at midday and chanted slogans against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia.
They said the BNP chief had killed innocent people and destroyed the country’s wealth.
The march, joined by JU Chhatra League President Mahmudur Rahman Jony, General Secretary Rajib Ahmed Rasel, Vice-president Rasel Miah Swadhin, Office Secretary Shahidul Islam Saif, Joint Secretary Mithun Kundu and Organising Secretary Murshedur Rahman among others, ended at Amar Ekushey sculpture in front of Social Science Faculty building.