Attack on JnU teachers, students: 3 Chhatra Dal members suspended, 2 barred from campus

Three members of Jagannath University's Chhatra Dal unit have been suspended and two others banned from entering the campus over an attack on the assistant proctor and student leaders.

The university administration has also issued a warning to another student in connection with the incident.

The decisions were announced on Tuesday in a notice signed by Md Moshirul Islam, deputy registrar of the university. The order was issued under the directive of the university's vice-chancellor.

The students who have been suspended are Yasin Hossain Saif of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism from the 2020–21 academic year, Abu Hena Mursalin of the Department of Social Work from the 2018–19 academic year, and Imran Hasan Iman, a Master’s student in the Department of Bengali from the 2023–24 academic year.

All three are members of the convening committee of the university's Chhatra Dal unit.

Md Mahmudul Hasan, a chemistry student from the 2012–13 session, and Md Zahidul Islam, a philosophy student from the 2012–13 session, have also been barred from entering the university campus.

Mahmudul is the joint convener of the university’s Chhatra Dal unit.

Following the incident, the central council of Chhatra Dal suspended him from his position for one month, citing a violation of organisational discipline.

Md Azizul Hakim, a student from the 2020–21 session in the Department of History and also a member of the convening committee, was issued a warning.

The university said any future violation of disciplinary rules by Hakim would lead to expulsion without further explanation.

The actions stem from an incident on the afternoon of Jul 10, when leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal unit allegedly attempted to detain a student from the Department of Management Studies near the Shaheed Sajid Academic Building.

During the altercation, they reportedly assaulted Assistant Proctor Shafiqul Islam and several leaders of the Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad.

The Chhatra Dal members had accused the student of having ties to the Chhatra League.

During the same incident, Jagannath University Bangladesh Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad Convener Faisal Murad, its Chief Organiser Ferdous Hasan, and Joint Convener Md Faruk -- all students of the Management Studies Department -- were also attacked.

In response, Bangladesh Democratic Students’ Union activists and students of the Management Studies Department locked the university’s administrative building, demanding that those responsible be held accountable.

Vice-Chancellor Md Rezaul Karim was confined inside the building for about two hours.

Speaking about the protest, Karim said: “This incident is not right. A committee was formed immediately after the attack, and steps were taken to punish the culprits. But such notices are typically sent to the departmental chairman, not issued directly to individuals.”