At least 600 leaders and activists of different units of Bangladesh Chhatra League's Dhaka University (DU) branch are now facing uncertain future whether they can complete their studies as a group of university students have announced to boycott them from residential halls and prevent them from classrooms and examination centres for their alleged subversive activities during July movement.
Over their controversial roles during the movement specially on July 15 on DU campus, the boycotted BCL leaders and activists were categorised into three divisions, including those who directly attacked quota protesters on the campus, supported the attacks, and who remained silent about the July movement.
After the fall of Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, students, supporters of the July movement, after reopening of the residential halls warned administrations not to allocate seats to them as well as announced not to sit with them in classrooms and examination centres.
Many of the BCL leaders are now afraid of physical assaults on the campus.
At least 165 boycotted BCL students belong to Bijoy Ekattor Hall, 59 to Masterda Surja Sen Hall, 58 to Sgt Zahurul Huq Hall, 51 to Muktijoddha Ziaur Rahman Hall, 39 to Hazi Mohammad Mohsin Hall, each 35 to Sir AF Rahman Hall and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, each 25 to Kabi Jasim Uddin Hall and Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall and 20 to Dr Muhammad Shahidullah Hall.
At least 40 BCL students attached to five female halls have also been declared unwanted in their respective dormitories.
This correspondent could not collect the list of boycotted BCL leaders and activists who used to reside at Jagannath Hall.
Among 600 BCL leaders and activists, at least 180 are master's students and 130 honours final year students.
However, protesters have demanded expulsion of the BCL leaders for engaging in different activities on the campus.
In the light of the demand, the DU authorities formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the BCL attacks on students on the campus as well in residential halls during July movement.
Lutfor Rahman, Coordinator of Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, said that those who did not commit any offence should not be afraid of coming to the campus, adding that BCL leaders who swoop on students during the movement are the ones who are afraid to enter the university.
Demanding fair investigations into their engagement in controversial activities during the July movement, Lutfor said, "After an impartial investigation, cases should be filed against the perpetrators who assaulted students. We demand administrative as well as legal action against the BCL students who beat up students and tried to prevent the movement."
Lutfor added that if someone is barred from attending classes and examinations without being guilty, the university administration should look into the matter and ensure their security.
DU Proctor Associate Prof Saifuddin Ahmed told the Daily Observer that he received complaints from some students that they were prevented from attending classes and examinations.
"We tried to hold their examinations separately. There is a tendency now that everyone is delivering verdict themselves in any case. But once the fact-finding committee begins investigation, the mob justice should be stopped."
We believe that the fact-finding committee will be able to identify the actual perpetrators and recommend punishment considering the nature of their offence, said Proctor Saifuddin.
