Three leaders of Dhaka University (DU) unit Jatiotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) have been relieved of their organisational posts over allegations of assaulting a physically challenged student at Jagannath Hall.
In a press release issued on Monday, DU JCD said disciplinary action was taken against Jagannath Hall unit joint conveners Chandan Das, Jhalak Das and Ripon Chandra Sarkar for violating organisational discipline.
According to allegations, the incident took place on Sunday evening at a tea stall beneath Rabindra Bhaban of Jagannath Hall, centering on a dispute over sitting with legs raised on a bench.
The victim, Avoy Kumar Singh, a Bangla Department student of the 2020-21 academic session, alleged that he had been sitting with his legs raised due to a knee problem. He said Chandan Das and Jhalak Das objected to the matter despite there being enough space at the stall.
In a Facebook post, Avoy alleged that after he returned to his room, Chandan Das, Jhalak Das, Ripon Chandra Sarkar and another student named Sagar entered the room and assaulted him physically, slapped him and threatened him not to visit the tea stall area again.
Avoy, who is a physically challenged student, described the incident as “inhumane” and demanded exemplary punishment for those involved.
Jagannath Hall Provost Prof Debashish Pal said a six-member investigation committee has been formed headed by Pharmacy Department Professor Dr Shimul Halder to investigate the incident.
“I have instructed the committee to submit the report within the next two to three days. After receiving the report, it will be forwarded to the university proctor,” he said.
Attempts to contact the accused students for comments were unsuccessful, while DU Proctor Associate Professor Mohammad Israfil Ratan could not be reached over phone for his statement.
