Chhatra Union calls for scrapping ‘controversial’ sections
Bangladesh Chhatra Union’s Jahangirnagar University unit yesterday demanded scrapping two revised sub-sections of the “controversial” disciplinary code.
The organisation’s leaders and activists made the demand at a human chain in front of JU’s new administrative building around 11am during a scheduled syndicate meeting.
Using the words “regressive” and “preventive” to describe the code, Chhatra Union president Nazir Amin Chowdhury Joy said, “The university authorities did this without any discussion with student organisations. It aims to muzzle the freedom of speech of students and journalists in multiple ways.”
Ariful Islam Anik, general secretary of JU Chhatra Union said, “The two sub-sections reflect the autocratic attitude of the university administration.”
He demanded that the sub-sections be scrapped.
One sub-section states that the JU authorities can expel students for life, if they publish or broadcast any “false” and “distorted” news about the university in local, national or international print, electronic media, or social media. The other newly-added sub-section says no student can send any “obscene” or “discourteous” message to any student, teacher, official or other employees of JU via telephone, mobile, email, and internet, or stalk them this way.
According to the revised code, any violation of the two sub-sections to it will be treated as “misconduct”, and the violators will have to face a maximum punishment of lifetime expulsion and a minimum penalty of Tk 5,000 in fine.
News of the revision to the code triggered widespread outcry among students, university-based journalists, student organisations, and a section of teachers last month.
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