Suspended BCL activist appears for exam at CU

An activist of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of the Chittagong University (CU) unit, who was suspended from the university for a year for his involvement in a factional clash, was allowed to participate in his third-year final exam today.

Mahmudul Hasan Ilias, a third-year student of the Islamic History and Culture department, is an activist of CU shuttle train-based BCL group Sixty-Nine.

In between January 5 and 6, at least 11 BCL men including an assistant proctor of the university were injured in clashes on the campus over establishing supremacy.

Following the clashes, the university's disciplinary committee held a virtual meeting and suspended six students including Mahmudul Hasan from the university on different terms for their involvement in the clashes.

The university authority issued an order in this regard yesterday.

The third-year final exam of the Islamic History and Culture department started on November 30 last year and is scheduled to end on January 23.

Today, there was a scheduled exam of 'course No-309' at the Arts and Humanities faculty at 10:00 am.

Interestingly, despite being suspended, Mahmudul Hasan was allowed to sit for the exam.

Contacted, Mohammad Bashir Ahammad, chairman of the department, said he was not aware of the suspension of the student claiming that the order did not reach his department.

CU Proctor Robiul Hasan Bhuiyan said the order didn't reach the respective departments as some works regarding the suspensions were pending.

Asked, whether the answer sheet for today's exam of Mahmudul would be annulled or not, Robiul said he would follow due procedures after discussing the issue with the university's vice-chancellor.

The proctor, however, said that the suspension order came into force on Monday.

Such incidents are nothing new at CU. Earlier, on several occasions, BCL men were allowed to take part in examinations despite being suspended from the university.