CU expels 3 BCL men for misconduct

Two declared persona non grata, showcause on 15

25 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Staff Correspondent, Chittagong

Chittagong University (CU) authorities yesterday expelled three activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and declared two others persona non grata on the campus for their unruly behaviour and misconduct. An urgent meeting of Board of Residence, Health and Discipline took the punitive measures against the five for bringing out procession yesterday defying restriction and assaulting teachers and a photographer. CU vice chancellor Prof Abu Yusuf presided over the meeting held at his office in the afternoon. The meeting expelled Kazi Mohammad Alam of Anthropology department, Shantanu Mohajan of History department and Ahsan Siddique Rimon of Marketing department for one year each. Alam was also fined Tk 80,000 for damaging video camera while expulsion of Rimon was extended by another one year. Rimon was expelled for one year on disciplinary ground early this year. Zahidul Islam Jewel alias 'Black' Jewel and AKM Sohel Rana, who already lost their studentship, were declared persona non grata on the campus, said proctor Prof Jasim Uddin. Besides, the authorities issued show-cause notices on 15 other students and declared all the expelled students persona non grata on the campus during the expulsion period. Sources said leaders and activists of the BCL CU unit, along with a number of outsiders, brought out a procession demanding trial of August 21 bomb blasts at around 1:00pm yesterday and chanted slogans defying restriction on holding procession and rally on the campus. As they moved in a procession from the university railway station area, two members of proctorial body and student affairs advisor and other officials obstructed them at Kanta Pahar point, sources said. At one stage, some unruly activists manhandled the teachers and injured photographer Khandaker Moazzem Hossain. Alam broke the camera as the photographer was recording footages of the unruly activities, witnesses said. Contacted, BCL general secretary Ershad Hossain claimed they brought out the procession after duly informing the authorities three days ago. “As some officials took away the banner forcibly, some of the activists became agitated and went beyond control,” he said. Vice chancellor (VC) Prof Abu Yusuf told The Daily Star that actions were taken for defying disciplinary rules, manhandling teachers and damaging property of the university. “None will be spared if he or she tries to disrupt academic atmosphere on the campus,” he said. The VC further said that the on-going restriction on gatherings, processions and rallies on the campus will continue except for the religious or university organised ones.