IU unit BCL-Torture: Prime accused appears before probe body

The leader and activist of Islamic University unit Bangladesh Chhatra League, the student organisation of the ruling Awami League, on Monday appeared before the probe body appointed by the university administration to reply to the allegations against them over ragging a fresher of Finance and Banking department of the university.

The prime accused, IU BCL unit vice-president Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her cohort Tabassum, appeared before IU probe body convener Professor Reba Mondol’s office at Mir Mosharraf Hossain Academic Building amid tight security measures in the morning.

The accused left the campus after her meeting with the probe committees formed by the university administration, IU proctor Professor M Shahadat Hossain Azad said.

Talking to UNB, Tabassum, cohort of Ontora, said, I told the investigation committee whatever happened on that day.’ She denied saying anything else.

Shanjida Chowdhury Ontora, however, declined to say anything regarding the allegations brought against them by the victim.

The probe body member secretary deputy registrar Alib Uddin of IU academic section, IU hall provost council president Professor Debashish Sharma and assistant proctor Murshid Alam Akash were present.

Professor Reba Mondol, convener of IU probe body, declined to say what they found in the investigation publicly.

They would try to submit their investigation report in time, she added.

Accused BCL leader Ontara and activist Tabassum left the hall following the High Court order on Thursday.

Kushtia district administration, however, formed a three member inquiry committee comprising additional district magistrate ANM Abujar Gifari, senior judicial magistrate Mahmuda Sultana and IU assistant proctor Shahbub Alam and asked it to submit its report within seven days following the High Court order.

Meanwhile, the pro-BNP teachers and officials of the university formed a human chain protesting at the ragging incident committed by the university unit BCL leader and activists.

They demanded immediate punishment of the accused involved in the incident through proper investigation.

On February 12 night, a group of BCL activists led by Ontora and her cohorts including Tabassum went to the victim’s room and reportedly assaulted and tortured her.

Ontora, at one stage, forced the victim to get undressed and videoed the incident on her mobile phone.

The BCL leader also threatened that she would make the video viral on social media if the victim disclosed the matter to anyone, according to the complainant.