67 DU students to be expelled over cheating, illegal arms and drugs

Dhaka University has decided to expel another 67 students for cheating at admission tests and involvement with illegal arms and drugs.

The disciplinary committee of the university took the decision at an emergency meeting on Tuesday.The expulsions will be carried out after approval by the Syndicate Committee, according to relevant sources.

Last year, the university expelled 15 students for cheating at admission tests of academic sessions from 2012-13 to 2017-18.

Responding to a query, Proctor Professor Gulam Rabbani told The Business Standard, "We have decided to expel another 63 students for getting admission in the university by using illegal means. They used digital devices and received answers from outside examination centres.

"They have been found to be involved in admission fraud. So, we have taken the decision to expel them. Besides, four more students will be expelled for their involvement with illegal arms and drugs at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall."

Meanwhile, the university has suspended two students for two months on the charge of beating up journalists. For different terms, 13students were suspended for mugging and 31 others for cheating in internal examinations of their respective departments. 

The administration has also asked the 13 students – who were suspended for mugging – to submit their explanations within the next seven days as to why they should not be expelled.

On June 23 last year, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police pressed charges against 125 people, including 87 students of Dhaka University, in a case filed over their alleged involvement in question paper leaks and cheating in admission tests.

Police submitted the charge sheet following a year and half long investigation. The case was filed with Shahbagh police station on October 20, 2017, under the Public Examinations Law and the Information and Communication Technology Act.

The four students who will be expelled for possession of illegal arms and drugs are Hasibur Rahman alias Tushar of Education and Research Institute, Abu Bakr alias Alif of Philosophy, Imran Hossain of World Religion and Culture and Iftekharul Islam alias Tushar of Pali and Buddhist Studies department of the university.

Residents of the Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, they are involved with the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL). They were also expelled from their dormitory.

On October 8 last year, a DU proctorial team raided a room at Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall and detained Hasibur Rahman Tushar, former deputy sports secretary, and Abu Bakr Alif, former deputy finance secretary of the hall unit BCL, for being in possession of yaba tablets and locally made arms. 

But Imran, also a resident of the room, managed to escape.

On the same evening, Tushar threatened Mohsin Hall BCL unit's Student Affairs Secretary Riaz Farazi by pointing a pistol at his head over group politics. Later, a case was lodged with Shahbagh police station against Tushar, Alif and Imran under the arms act.