Dhaka, Apr 20 (Just News): The Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, the platform of quota protesters, on Friday demanded resignation of Dhaka University's Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall provost Sabita Rezwana Rahman over “expelling” several students from the dormitory.
Nurul Haque, a joint convener of the platform which launched the quota reform movement, made the demand while talking to reporters after a protest rally on the Dhaka University campus in the evening, reports UNB.
Some inmates of the female dormitory were allegedly expelled from the female students’ dormitory in the small hours of Friday. It is not clear yet how many students were thrown out of the hall although some students alleged that the number is 20.
Denying the allegation, the DU authorities said three students were handed over to their families for their alleged involvement in spreading rumour through Facebook.
Nurul said they heard that around 30 students were expelled from the dormitory.
The council leaders demanded that the hall inmates be brought back as early as possible.
They also urged the university authorities not to harass any general student.
Starting from the foot of Raju Sculpture, the rally ended the starting point parading through Shahbagh and Nilkhet.
Wishing anonymity, a student of the dormitory, said, "When we tried to protest the hall authorities' decision, the provost threatened to cancel our studentship if we don't leave the hall immediately."
However, Sabita Rezwana Rahman denied the allegation, saying, "We called a number of students for investigation and checking their mobile phones as they're spreading rumours through fake Facebook accounts. We also called guardians of some students to inform them about their activities. Three students have been handed over to their local guardians. But we didn't expel or cancel any student's seat."
On the other hand, DU vice-chancellor professor Md Akhtaruzzaman described the allegation of forcing female students out of the hall as a 'complete rumour'.
"It's completely a rumour. Such incident didn't take place in the dormitory. The hall authorities handed over three students to their guardians for their alleged involvement in spreading rumour about the hall through fake Facebook accounts," he told a press briefing at his residence.
"As yesterday was Thursday, anyone can go home at 9:00pm. It's totally propaganda against the university authorities," said Akhtaruzzaman.
He also urged the guardians to ask their children to refrain from spreading rumour through Facebook.
On early 11 April, the DU authorities expelled Iffat Jahan Isha, president of Sufia Kamal Hall unit BCL, as some BCL activists, led by her, allegedly swooped on some inmates, leaving Morsheda Akhter, a fourth year student of Botany department, critically injured.
Besides, the BCL central executive committee had expelled Isha on charge of 'violating organisational discipline'.
However, both the DU and the BCL withdrew their expulsion orders as probe bodies found 'no evidence of torture on a student inside the hall' by Isha.
The DU authorities also served show-cause notices on 26 students of the hall over the incident.
The BCL also expelled 24 of its central and hall unit leaders and activists for their alleged involvement in the small hours of 11 April event.
(Justnews/ys/2340hr)
