Over dozen JU freshmen bring allegations of abuse against BCL men on campus

Over a dozen freshmen students have brought allegations of verbal abuse against "Chhatra League seniors" at Jahangirnagar University.

A video of the incident that took place early today was obtained by The Daily Star.

In the video collected by our JU correspondent, it was seen that seven to eight senior students used abusive language while addressing junior students.

Filmed at 12:30 am the video shows senior students "teaching etiquette'" to first-year students in the guest room of the university's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall.

Other than the footage captured in the video, victim students said they were subjected to different manner of abuse and were also forced to hold their ears.

The victim students also said, "boro bhais" were allegedly teaching them "manners".

A student wishing to remain anonymous told The Daily Star that there is no other way to stay in the hall. I assumed that in future I have to get used to listening to such vulgar words.

Several students of that hall claimed that all those who were seen abusing the freshmen in the video were Chhatra League activists.

Zayed, who was among the seniors, told The Daily Star, "The juniors were involved in an untoward incident on the campus on Sunday. That's why there is pressure on us. So, we called them. Besides, there is a hall tournament coming up, so we called them to provide instructions.

Zayed earlier identified himself as Ahsan while talking to The Daily Star but the victims later identified him as Zayed.

When contacted, Habibur Rahman Litton, general secretary of the university BCL, told The Daily Star, said, "I was sleeping when all this was going on. The guest room is in order but if there is any inconsistency, I am looking into it."

"There were two calls at night. I guessed something was wrong. When I later called the hall office, they didn't say anything. and now I the matter heard from you," Hall Provost Prof Israfil Ahmed told this correspondent.

"I will investigate the matter," he said.

"If the allegations are found to be true, action will be taken as per the disciplinary rules of the university," said JU Proctor Feroze-ul-Hasan.

JU VC Prof Nurul Alam told the proctor to form an investigation committee in this matter and take action as soon as possible."

"The matter will be investigated and legal action will be taken" the VC said.