Writ seeks steps against those involved in IU student torture

Senior Staff Reporter Published: 15 February 2023, 10:03 PM | Updated: 17 February 2023, 05:17 PM
Writ seeks steps against those involved in IU student torture

A writ petition has been filed in the High Court seeking legal action against those involved in the physical torture of a female student of Islamic University, Kushtia in a dormitory.

The writ also sought to summon those involved in the event to appear in court and a direction to remove video-record of the incident.

Supreme Court lawyer Gazi Md Mohsin filed the writ petition in the public interest on Wednesday, he himself confirmed to Jago News.

The secretary to Home Ministry, the secretary to Education Ministry, IU vice-chancellor, its registrar and proctor, and so on were made respondents in the writ.

Later, the writ was presented to the bench of Justice JBM Hasan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil for hearing and the bench fixed Thursday to hear it.

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Earlier this morning, lawyers Gazi Md Mohsin and Asgar Hossain Tuhin drew the physical assault of the IU student to the High Court's attention.

On Tuesday, media outlets reported that a female student of Kushtia University was tortured allegedly by the university unit Bangladesh Chhatra League vice president Sanjida Chowdhury Antora, her associate Tabassum and several others in a mass room of a dormitory from 11 pm on Saturday to 3 am on Sunday.

The victim made a written complaint to the university proctor, Sheikh Hasina Hall provost and the university student advisor in this regard on Thursday.

In the complaint, she alleged Tabassum, a student of the Finance and Banking Department, on February 9 told her to go to Projapati-2 room at 8 pm but she did not go there due to sickness.

Then, Tabassum threatened to throw her out of the dormitory and an attempt was taken to do so on Saturday night but could not for the hall provost's interference.

On the following day, seven to eight, including BCL leader Sanjida Chowdhury, called the victim to a mass room and beat up her and scolded her.

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At one stage, they told her to take off her clothes and again beat her up when she refused to do so.

They also video-recorded the acts and threatened to viral and even gave life threats if she share the incident with anyone.

Accused Sanjida, however, said she, the victim, was intimidating in her name and that is why she made her understand and such nothing they did with her.

IU BCL president Faisal Siddiqui Arafat said they will demand punishment of Sanzida by the administration and take organizational steps if the allegations against her are proven.

The university proctor Professor Shahadat Hossain Azad said he will first see the written complaint and then take measures after an investigation.

In this regard, IU Vice Chancellor Dr Sheikh Abdus Salam said he heard about the incident and will take necessary action knowing the details and discussing with those concerned.

FH/SU