Buet students yesterday boycotted their classes and exams and demonstrated against early Thursday's gathering of Chhatra League activists on the campus where political activities are not allowed.

They demanded expulsion of several students, including Imtiaz Hossain Rahim, a central committee member of the pro-Awami League student body, for what they said were their open political activities on the campus.

The protesters said they would continue demonstrating and boycotting the classes until their demands are met and the "campus is safe for students".

They said multiple rules were broken when student leaders of other universities entered Buet after 2:00am even though the gates are supposed to be locked at 10:30pm.

They also demanded removal of Prof Mizanur Rahman from the post of director of the directorate of students' welfare for his failure to enforce the rules.

The university on Friday cancelled the residency of Imtiaz, a student of civil engineering department, at a dormitory. It also formed a six-member committee to investigate the allegations and asked it to submit a report by April 8.

Student politics was banned on the campus after the murder of a second-year student named Abrar Fahad by members of Bangladesh Chhatra League at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall on October 7, 2019.

Meanwhile, BCL yesterday demanded lifting of the ban and ridding the campus of the "dark shadow cast by communal forces".

It also denounced the cancellation of Imtiaz's residency at a Buet dormitory.

Vice-Chancellor Satya Prasad Majumder yesterday said, "We could expel Imtiaz from the dorm. But expulsion from the university requires a systematic process by the disciplinary committee."

The disciplinary committee cannot take an action without an investigation report, he said, adding that the person facing the allegation must get an opportunity to defend himself.

About the demonstrations, he said, "We have not postponed the exams they had boycotted. They did not even apply for a postponement. We will consider it if they file applications."

In the afternoon, a group of students introducing themselves as Awami League supporters told reporters that several religion-based political organisations were active on the campus.

BCL ON THE FRONT FOOT

BCL yesterday announced that it would hold a protest rally at the Central Shaheed Minar today, demanding resumption of students politics at Buet.

In a press statement, BCL said, "Students of Bangladesh strongly condemn and protest this decision taken by Buet administration [to expel Imtiaz from dorm] as it is unfair, unconstitutional, anti-educational and against fundamental rights."

It claimed that the decision of Buet authorities was a clear violation of multiple articles of the constitution, including the ones concerning freedom of speech and assembly.

The efforts to ban mainstream politics were contributing to turn Buet into a breeding ground for anti-state activities, the press release said.

In another development, Muktijuddho Mancha has announced that it will form a committee to force the Buet administration to withdraw its ban on student politics on the campus.

In a press statement yesterday, the organisation said the committee would be formed at the university to launch a movement against the ban.