HC orders probe into ragging of Islamic Uni female student allegedly by BCL

The High Court on Thursday ordered the formation of a three-member probe committee within three days over the ragging of a female student allegedly by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists at Islamic University in Kushtia and submit the report within seven days.

Kushtia Deputy Commissioner (DC) and Superintendent of Police (SP) have been directed to ensure the safety of the victim while two of the accused have been asked to stay off the campus during the investigation.

The bench of Justice JBM Hassan and Justice Razik-Al-Jalil passed the order after hearing a writ petition.

The court ordered the DC to form the probe body comprising a judicial magistrate, an executive magistrate and an Islamic University teacher.

Besides, the HC also asked the committee formed by the university to submit its findings within the next 10 days.

Supreme Court lawyer Gazi Md Mohsin had filed the writ petition in the public interest on Wednesday.

Secretaries of home affairs and education ministries, Islamic University vice-chancellor, its registrar and proctor were made respondents in the writ.

"The court would give further orders after submission of the probe reports," lawyer Gazi Md Mohsin told The Business Standard on Thursday.

A first-year student of the Finance and Banking department at Islamic University was allegedly tortured and harassed by the university unit BCL Vice-President Sanjida Chowdhury Ontora and her associates at Deshratno Sheikh Hasina Hall on the campus on the night of 12 February.

The incident came to light after the victim left the hall and disclosed the matter to her seniors and her family members on Monday.

The victim on Tuesday submitted a written complaint to the university proctor, student adviser and the hall provost, demanding punishment for those involved in the incident.