He still can't return to dorm
Dhaka University student SM Yasin Arafat, who staged a one-man protest in front of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall early Friday, could not return to his dorm yet after allegedly being threatened and barred by BCL leaders of the hall.
He said he went to the campus yesterday but did not go inside his dorm -- Sir AF Rahman Hall -- as he was feeling insecure.
Yasin, a second-year student of international business department, staged a sit-in in front of Sufia Kamal hall around 1:30am on the day, demanding resignation of the hall provost for driving out some female students of the hall late Thursday night.
After the protest, when Yasin returned to his dorm around 4:00am, some BCL activists led by hall unit president Hafizur Rahman and general secretary Mahmudul Hasan Tushar barred him from getting in, he alleged.
They also asked him why he had joined the protest. Later, he was asked to leave the dorm, he alleged. Since then, Yasin said he was staying at a friend's house at Bakshi Bazar.
The BCL leaders, however, denied the allegation saying they did not know Yasin and did not bar anyone from entering the hall.
Yasin said he has been living at the hall's room 407 for the last three months.
Contacted, general secretary Mahmudul told this correspondent, “I do not know any student named Yasin. No one named Yasin lives in room 407. You may check if you want.”
This correspondent also spoke with Yasin's roommates who confirmed that he has been living with them for the last three months.
Meanwhile, Sir AF Rahman Hall authorities, who are entrusted to allot seats to the residential students, said they did not get any written complaint from the student and no evidence was found of him staying in the room.
Prof Saiful Islam, provost of the hall, said they did not find any proof that Yasin was staying at the hall. “Perhaps he was given allotment to this hall but I did not find his belongings after searching three or four rooms he claimed to have stayed.”
“Besides, he neither filed any written complaint regarding the issue nor he informed me verbally. I will check the official documents of the hall today [Sunday] to confirm his allotment. We will take steps after that,” he added.
Meanwhile, Yasin alleged that the BCL leaders instructed his roommates to not to acknowledge that he has been staying with them. “I'm an allotted student of the hall. I still have my belongings there.”
When asked why he did not file any complaint, he said he could not do so as the university is closed on Fridays and Saturdays. “I will contact the provost today [Sunday].”
On late Thursday, three female students of Sufia Kamal hall were driven out of the hall on the allegation that they had spread rumours using fake accounts on Facebook during the April 10 incident at the dormitory.
The incident of driving out the students drew huge criticism.
Around 1:30am on Friday, with a placard demanding removal of Sufia Kamal hall Provost Prof Sabita Rizwana, Yasin staged a sit-in in front of the hall alone.
As the news spread, a number of students, including leaders of Bangladesh Shadharan Chhatra Odhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad, a platform of students who had been demonstrating for a reform in the quota system joined him.
After hours of demonstrations, the hall provost said the three girls had returned to the dorm after giving written statements that “they would not spread rumours again”.
PROTEST CONTINUES
Around 100 people under the banner of “Shikkharthider Onirapottay Udbigno Ovivabok O Nagarikbrindo” staged a protest rally in front of the national museum in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday.
The speakers condemned the Thursday night's incident and demanded a safe and stable campus for the students.
Meanwhile, demanding a safe campus for students, a group of teachers under the banner of “Shocheton Shikkhokbrindo” will form a human chain at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla on the campus around 11:00am today.
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