Torturing of Phulpori: HC asks to re-determine punishment of five IU students
Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Wednesday ordered the Islamic University authorities to cancel the expulsion order of its five female students including an expelled leader of the Chhatra League of the university unit over the torturing of fresher student Phulpori Khatun and to impose fresh sentences for the accused following the due process of law.
The university authorities have been asked to submit a report with the court by implementing this directive by August 23.
The HC bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order as due process of law was not maintained in expelling five female students of the university who were found guilty over the torturing.
Lawyer Shah Monjurul Hoque appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the Islamic University, while lawyer Gazi Md Mohsin himself argued in favour of his writ petition.
Shah Monjurul Hoque said, “The disciplinary committee of the university has expelled five students for a year over their involvement in the torturing. But as per the provisions of the Students’ Code of Conduct, 1987 of the University, the Vice-Chancellor will take the first decision on the punishment.
The student-disciplinary committee of the university will finally impose the punishment after analyzing whether the punishment of the Vice-Chancellor is appropriate. But the Vice-Chancellor did not give any decision regarding these five students. The disciplinary committee imposed direct punishment.”
Since the due process was not followed in punishing the students, the High Court asked the Islamic University authorities to cancel the expulsion order of them to impose fresh sentences for the accused following the due procedure, added the lawyer.
Gazi Md Mohsin said, “The maximum penalty in the Students’ Code of Conduct is cancellation of studentship. Meanwhile, the university authorities have stated in their report that they have imposed maximum punishment for the offenders. However, expulsion for one year cannot be considered as the maximum punishment.”
The Islamic University authorities on July 15 expelled five of its female students for a year over their involvement in the torturing.
The students are— Sanjida Chowdhury Antora of Statistics department who is also Vice-President of the IU Chhatra League, Halima Akhtar Urmi of Fine Arts department, Ishrat Jahan Meem of Law department, Tabassum Islam and Muabia Jahan of Finance and Banking department.
Phulpori alleged that BCL leader Sanjida and other BCL activists tortured her on the night of February 11 for staying at the Deshratna Sheikh Hasina Hall without their “permission”. They allegedly tortured her from 11:00pm till 3:30am.
After being noticed through the media the Supreme Court lawyer filed the writ petition seeking HC directives to probe the torturing, and security of the victim student.
