JCD expels 3 leaders, serves show-cause notices on 6 over RU attack on journalists

The central committee of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) has expelled three leaders and served show-cause notices on six others for allegedly violating organisational discipline following an attack on journalists and students at Rajshahi University.

The decisions were announced in two separate notices signed by JCD Central Committee Office Secretary Jahangir Alam on Monday.

The expelled leaders are Ahsan Habib, vice-president of the university unit; Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam; and Bishal Chakraborty.

According to the notices, Ahsan and Hasibul were expelled from their organisational posts for violating organisational discipline, while Bishal was expelled from the JCD’s primary membership.

Meanwhile, six leaders of the university unit were served show-cause notices over the same allegations. They are Vice-Presidents Takbir Ahmed Emon, Bulbul Rahman, Shariful Islam and Faruk Hossain; Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam; and activist Saju.

The six have been asked to appear at the central office within 48 hours and provide written explanations as to why permanent organisational disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

Earlier on Sunday night, leaders and activists of the RU JCD unit attacked journalists and students with locally made weapons, leaving at least 10 people injured, including four journalists who sustained serious injuries.

The university administration on Monday filed a case against unidentified accused over the incident.

Monir Hossain, deputy registrar of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, filed the case with Motihar Police Station.

However, journalists at the university expressed anger over the filing of the case against unidentified accused.

They demanded that those involved in the attack be identified and arrested promptly, and that the university administration take visible and effective action against them.