BUET gets tough with politics, ragging

The Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology authorities on early Tuesday issued a notice outlining provisions of punishments for students to be found involved in ragging or politics.

The move came to resolve the stalemate after the killing of BUET student Abrar Fahad Rabbi in October. 

The protesters on Tuesday said they had confusions regarding some sections of punishment included as per their demand in the draft amendments to the university order as two other demands—expulsion of the accused in the Abrar murder and punishment of those involved in ragging—were already implemented.

Abrar, an electrical and electronic engineering second-year student, was beaten to death by Chhatra League leaders at the university’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall on October 7 early hours for his critical remarks in Facebook over the government’s recent deals with India.

The statement, signed by Students’ Welfare director Mizanur Rahman, said the students who would be found involved in ragging  and politics would face ‘permanent expulsion’ as the highest level of punishment.

The notice said that the students would be expelled if they were found involved in ragging leading to death, serious body harm, any form of disability, permanent mental imbalance or trauma, or disruption of academic life of a fellow student.

In such a situation, the notice said, the university law officer would file a case following due process.

The university categorised the offences along with penalties in the face of massive protests by the BUET students after the murder of fellow student Abrar Fahad.

However, the protesters who had boycotting all sorts of academic activities since October 16 said they welcomed the move but they had some confusion regarding some sections on punishing students’ involvement in politics.

Antara Tithi, an organiser of the protesters, said that they did not want a complete ban on student politics but political party affiliated to student organisations’ activities but the university authority did not specify it in the statement rather they also ban participating in processions, meetings, putting up graffiti or posters.

She further said that they would meet the university authorities today regarding their confusion and announce their stance soon.

Earlier on November 27, BUET suspended nine students 4-7 terms and expelled them from their halls of residence for ragging their fellows at Suhrawardy and Ahsan Ullah halls.

Earlier on November 21, the university expelled 26 students for their alleged involvement in the murder of Abrar Fahad.

Following the murder, the protesting BUET students placed 10-point demand that include rustication of the killers of Abrar from the university, capital punishment to them, compensation to Abrar’s family, bearing the family expenses for running the case, speedy trial of the case, making the charge sheet public, rustication from the university of all those involved in torturing students in the past and banning organisation-based student politics at the university.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net