JU suspends 8 students

The Jahangirnagar University authorities yesterday temporarily suspended eight Chhatra League activists for their alleged involvement in an incident of sexual assault on an indigenous female student on the university campus during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations on Tuesday.

JU Vice Chancellor Farzana Islam ordered the suspensions, exercising her special power.

The names of the students were not disclosed.

"Their names will be disclosed only after the investigation is completed," JU Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique told this paper.

However, according to a highly placed source in the JU disciplinary body, one of the suspended students is from Journalism and Media Studies department, two from Chemistry, one from Geography and Environment, one from History, one from Zoology and two from Anthropology.

They all were residents of Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall.

In her written complaint to the university authorities, the victim alleged the BCL men sexually harassed her and physically assaulted a male friend of hers near Munni Sarani around 7:30pm on Tuesday when they were roaming about the campus and enjoying the Pahela Baishakh celebrations. The attackers also snatched away their cell phones and her purse.

JU teachers and students under the banner of "Shikkhak-Shikkharti Oikya Mancha" yesterday announced that they would form a human chain on the campus today at 11:00am, demanding punishment of the culprits.

Meanwhile, the JU chapter of the BCL, the student front of the ruling Awami League, suspended the eight activists, accused of the sexual assault.

A press release signed by JU BCL President Mahmudur Rahman Jony and General Secretary Razib Ahmed Russel, stated that the decision was taken as their involvement in the incident was proved in primary investigations.