JU student killed in BCL infighting

Zubair Ahmed

A fourth-year student of Jahangirnagar University (JU) succumbed to his injuries yesterday, 13 hours after he was brutally beaten up allegedly by activists of a rival faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League, the pro-Awami League student wing.
Deceased Zubair Ahmed, 24, son of Tofael Ahmed of Khepupara in Patuakhali district, was a student of English department and belonged to the Shafin-Sammo faction of the university Chhatra League unit.
The university authorities in an emergency syndicate meeting yesterday expelled three students -- Khandaker Ashikul Islam, and Khan Mohammad Rais, both fourth-year students of Zoology department, and Rashedul Islam, fourth-year student of Philosophy department -- for one year for their alleged involvement in the violence. The three expelled belong to the Shamim-Sharif faction of Chhatra League.
The syndicate also formed a six-member body headed by JU Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Farhad Hossain to investigate the matter. The university authorities have also filed a murder case with Ashulia Police Station against the three expelled and some unnamed students.
As the news of the death spread on the campus yesterday, students and Chhatra League activists staged demonstrations and confined the vice chancellor in his office for around four hours from 11:00am demanding permanent expulsion of the accused.
The VC was freed on the assurance of meeting the demand by 10:00am today.
Meanwhile, police have arrested one of the accused, Ashikul Islam, at his room in Mir Mosharraf Hossain dormitory yesterday, said Badrul Alam, officer-in-charge of Ashulia Police Station.
Friends said, Zubair was picked up by a group of Chhatra League activists from the new arts faculty building after he had come out of an examination Sunday around 4:30pm. They dragged him behind Wajed Ali Science building and beat him up with iron rods.
Two youths rushed Zubair to Enam Medical College Hospital in Savar in a critical condition, said doctors.
Zubair was kept in the intensive care unit but had to be shifted to United Hospital in the capital Sunday night as his condition deteriorated, the doctors added.
The victim succumbed to his injuries at 6:00am. His body was then sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for an autopsy. Morgue sources said the victim had injury marks all over the body and died of excessive internal bleeding.
The body was taken to his village yesterday afternoon.
Zubair along with some activists of their faction took control over Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman hall in June 2010 ousting the activists of the rival faction, said Nirjhor Ahmed Sammo, secretary of JU unit Chhatra League which has been kept suspended since July 5, 2010.
In February last year, the Shamim-Sharif group with the help of the university administration ejected the group from the campus and retained control over the dormitory, Sammo claimed.
"Around 150 activists of our faction have been barred from entering the campus since then," he said.
Zubair sat for the final examination with the permission of the VC, said Sammo, adding, "We time and again requested the university administration to ensure security of our group members but they did not pay heed to that."
Shafin Ahmed, president of the suspended Chhatra League committee, alleged that the Shamim-Sharif faction. He claimed that alleged killer group is blessed by some influential teachers.
The Daily Star tried to contact VC Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir over the phone for his comment but he did not pick up the phone.
He, however, in a statement condemned the death and said the authorities will take necessary steps against the culprits according to the university law.
Contacted Shamim denied the allegation and said Zubair was not involved in politics. He said the Shafin-Sammo group blamed them for political gain.
Zubair's elder brother Abdullah Al Mamum yesterday at the morgue told The Daily Star that Zubair got involved in politics to get a seat in the dormitory and that he had been detached from politics for the last one year.
"I have rented a room in Radio Colony area just to keep him away from politics," he said, alleging that Zubair was killed for not being active.
The brother will also file a case with the Ashulia police.