The authorities of Dhaka University (DU) have suspended three students on charges of tarnishing the image of the university, engaging in misconduct and anti-discipline activities by robbing the driver of a covered van.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Akhtaruzzaman issued the suspension order on Tuesday, reads a press release issued by the DU public relations office.
The three students are Fazle Naveed Anon of the Theatre and Performance Studies Department, Rahat Rahman of the Management Information Systems Department, and Sadiq Ahmed of the Social Welfare and Research Institute.
They were asked to explain within seven working days why they should not be expelled from the university.
On Sunday, Chhatra League, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, expelled 21 members from four universities and a college for their alleged involvement in robberies, extortion, clashes and other criminal activities. Anon, Rahat and Sadiq were among those expelled.
There have been many reports of DU Chhatra League activists being involved in criminality, especially mugging, over the years.
On February 6, the three Dhaka University students were arrested for robbing the driver of a covered van near the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet) area of the capital.
A patrol team of Shahbag police station arrested the three when the driver was screaming for help at around 2:30am that day, said SI Omar Sani Naim.
All three of them confessed to the crime during primary interrogation, said the SI.
The arrestees had allegedly demanded Tk50,000 from the driver. However, when the driver could not give them the amount, the students snatched Tk15,000 from him, the SI added.
The covered van driver, Abu Taher, filed a case in this regard. The students were sent to jail after a court order later.
