Buet fixes explusion as punishment for ragging

The Buet authorities will expel students if he or she is found involved in ragging that leads to death, serious “bodily harm”, any form of disability, permanent mental imbalance or trauma, and disruption of academic life of any fellow student.

The university law officer will also file a case in such a situation following due procedures, says a notice issued by Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology early yesterday.

The notice added that the authorities could impose fine, suspend or expel any student if his or her involvement in political activities was found.

Also, any student who holds political posts or involved in political activities, including campaigning, participating in processions, meetings and putting up graffiti or posters in the university, forces or induces or inspires others to take part in the above activities can also be given the same punishment, it mentioned.

With the steps, the authorities have fulfilled all the three demands of the Buet students placed after Abrar Fahad was killed.

The notice added that punitive action and penalties for the offences related to ragging and political involvement of students were decided as per the recommendations by a committee formed in this regard. 

The students were demonstrating on the campus, demanding expulsion of 25 charge-sheeted accused in the Abrar murder case, punishing students involved in ragging incidents at Buet dormitories, and formulating specific rules prohibiting ragging and organisation-based politics.

Following the notice, the agitating students said they would return to classes and were positive about appearing in the term finals likely to start on December 28.  

Talking to The Daily Star, a spokesperson of the protesters said they would hold a press conference today to let all know their decision after talking to teachers and other students.

Amid protest on the campus, the Buet authorities on October 11 banned all political activities and suspended 19 students, mostly leaders of the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League, accused in the Abrar murder case.

The academic activities of the university remained halted as the protesters on October 15 declared not to return to classes until the authorities expel the charge-sheeted accused in the Abrar murder case.

On November 14, protesters placed two fresh demands -- punishing students involved in previous incidents of ragging at Buet dormitories, and formulating specific rules prohibiting ragging and organisation-based politics.

On November 22, the Buet authorities expelled 26 students in connection with Abrar killing and suspended nine other students on November 28 as their involvement in previous incidents of ragging was found.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday ordered police to attach properties of four fugitives accused in the Abrar murder case.

They are Buet BCL deputy office secretary (sacked) Mustafa Rafid and its members Morsheduzzaman Jishan, Ehtashamul Rabbi Tanim (sacked), and Morshed Amartya Islam. 

The 21 other charge-sheeted accused were arrested.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Kaisarul Islam passed the order after police submitted the reports on execution of arrest warrant issued by the court on November 18.

Abrar, a second-year student of electrical and electronics engineering department, died after he was brutally beaten by some BCL men at Sher-e-Bangla Hall of the university on early hours of October 7.