IU issues appeal for information to aid investigation

 

IU Live: The authorities of Islamic University issued an open notice for all of its students with a view to gather information regarding the ragging incident reportedly by the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts on the campus in Kushtia on February 12 night.

A press release, signed by IU information and public relations office deputy registrar Rashiduzzaman Khan Tutul, was issued in this regard on Saturday night.

According to the press release, the university administration has issued the open notice for all to gather information from them for fair investigation of the ragging incident.

If anyone has any evidence or information about the torture of female students, he/she should be asked to submit it, in written form or in person, to the probe body convener Professor Reba Mondol of law department of the university on Monday around 11:00am.

The identity of the informant will be kept confidential, the press release added.

Campus sources said that the fresher student of IU finance and banking department was brought to the campus under tight security on Saturday to testify before the inquiry committee as per the High Court directive.

She was later taken directly to the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall to testify in front of the inquiry committees appointed by the university authorities and the hall administration from 1:00pm to 4:00pm on Saturday.

The victim left the campus after her meeting with the probe committees formed by the hall authorities and the university administration, IU proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad said.

Four other students of the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall of the university also told the probe body that they were also tortured and intimidated by IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohorts in the last few months.

They also demanded their immediate punishment to the probe bodies so that they could not dare to do such a heinous act in the future.

Talking to UNB, the victim said, "I have told the investigation committee whatever happened to me. I want fair justice for the accused involved in the incident," she said.

Ataur Rahman, father of the victim, said that the university administration assured them that legal action would be taken against the accused after a fair investigation.
But he demands immediate punishment of the accused.

Three other accused, Israt Jahan Mim of law department, Halima Khatun Urmi of fine arts department and Maobiya of finance and banking department, also took part in the ragging incident along with Ontora, a group of eye witnesses said on Sunday.

On February 12 night, a group of BCL activists led by Ontora and her cohorts including Tabassum went to the victim’s room and reportedly assaulted and tortured her.

Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on her mobile phone.

The BCL leader also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complainant.

The victim lodged a written complaint with the university administration, including the university proctor, student adviser and the hall provost, demanding punishment of those involved in the incident on February 14.

A writ petition was also filed by Gazi Mohammad Mohsin, an alumnus of the university and a lawyer, with the High Court on Thursday.

The HC on the same day ordered the accused to leave the hall and the university administration to look into the matter seriously, and submit a report in this regard within the next 10 days.

It also asked the deputy commissioner of Kushtia to form a three-member probe body to further inquire into the incident, and submit a report within the next seven days.

Accused BCL leader Ontara and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order.

Dhaka, 20 February (campuslive24.com)//BSC

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