Torture of students by ex-BCL leader: Protesters block road demanding punishment

Hundreds of students of Bogura Government Institute of Health Technology (IHT) today blocked the highway in front of Mohammad Ali Hospital in Bogura town, demanding the arrest of former Chhatra League leader Sajal Ghosh.

The protesters began the roadblock at 12:00 noon and were still continuing it at 8:00pm while filing of this report. Commuters suffered due to the prolonged roadblock as the students only allowed ambulances and other vehicles carrying patients to pass through.

Institute Vice Principal Omar Farooq and Bogura Sadar Circle Additional Superintendent of Police Sarafat Islam went to the spot to convince the students to return to campus but failed, reports our Bogura correspondent.

The students alleged that Sajal, former organising secretary of Bogura district unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, took over a hostel room of the institute illegally despite being an outsider by using his political influence and has been using the room to torture students there for the last 12 years.

The students also complained that Sajal used to bring goons to the room and thereby create a reign of terror on the entire campus. Sajal also allegedly extorts vast sums of money by trading hostel seats and promising to help students pass exams, the protesters said.

Many students of the institute were subjected to Sajal's torture while protesting against him, they said, adding that Sajal has been aided by Institute Principal Amayat-Ul-Hasin in carrying out these activities, said Sabuj Mandal, a 3rd-year student of dental department at IHT.

Numerous photos and video footages of Sajal's crimes are already available on social media, but the administration has yet to play any role to stop him, said Aminul Islam, another student.

"On September 2, we filed a case against Sajal but police could not nab him yet. The police gave assurances of taking action against Sajal but are yet to take any step," Sabuj said.

"He is a dangerous criminal and no one of us is safe unless he is caught. We have been protesting for the last 13 days demanding our security and arrest of Sajal, and removal of a principal madam but the administration is not taking any measure," he added.

A police source and some students alleged that Arifur Rahman, councillor of Bogura Municipality ward-10 and a former leader of Bogura town unit of Swechasebak League, patronised Sajal for long. Arifur, however, refuted the allegation.

"Tell me the name of the police officer and the students who brought allegations against me! For the last 13 days, I have provided food to the students protesting against Sajal. I also stand beside them and want Sajal's punishment," Arifur said over phone, asking this correspondent to meet him in person for interviewing him.

"According to these students, Sajal has been staying in the hostel for the last 10 years or more, I joined IHT only two years back. I did not patronise Sajal," said IHT Principal Amayat-Ul-Hasin.

"The students have filed a case and we are trying to arrest the accused. However, blocking the road in front of a hospital and creating public nuisance is not logical. Police, as well as other government agencies are trying to arrest Sajal, students should understand that," said Sudeep Kumar Chakraborty, superintendent of police in Bogura.

Earlier, the students have been holding protest programmes on the IHT campus against Sajal since August 29 afternoon.

Sajal is on the run and his phone has been switched off since August 29.