Five leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League molested a female indigenous student of Jahangirnagar University on the night of Pohela Boishakh, resulting in their suspension from the organisation.
The victim, a botany student, submitted a written complaint against the culprits to the university authorities yesterday.
According to the complaint, the victim along with her friend Nahid Ahmed was returning to her dormitory Pritilata Hall around 8pm from her department’s Pohela Boishakh celebration, when journalism student Nishat Imtiaz Bijoy, chemistry student Nafis Imtiaz, anthropology students Abdur Rahman Iftee and Nurul Kabir and geography and environment science student Rakib Hasan blocked their way near the Chourangi intersection.
The accused forcefully took them to a deserted area and snatched away their valuables. They beat them up both and tried to undress the girl. As both the victims screamed for help, people gathered quickly which made the culprits flee.
All the accused are residential students at Shaheed Salam Barakat Hall of the university. Of them, Bijoy is an executive member of Chhatra League, while Nafis is the publicity secretary of the organisation in the dormitory.
This incident created an uproar among the JU students.
Chhatra League also suspended the accused members, according to a press release issued by the organisation yesterday.
Mahmudur Rahman Jony, president of JU Chhatra League, confirmed it to the Dhaka Tribune and said: “They will remain suspended until this matter is properly investigated and the report is submitted. If they are found guilty, they will be expelled for life from Chhatra League.”
JU Proctor Prof Dr Tapan Kumar Saha said his office had received the complaint. “We have forwarded it to the university’s anti-sexual harassment cell.”
