BUET bans political activities

Bangladesh’s apex engineering university Buet banned organisational student politics on its campus on Friday, three days after second-year student Abrar Fahad was beaten to death at a residential hall.

“I’m announcing a ban on all kind of organisational political activities on the campus,” Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Saiful Islam said while talking to Buet students over their 10-point demands at the central auditorium in the afternoon.

He agreed to the students’ demands and said Buet authorities will bear the cost of Abrar’s case, provide compensation to his Family, stop the culture of ragging and ensure security of students.

Islam also apologised to the students over the killing of the second-year EEE student. “I hope you’ll forgive me,” he said, announcing suspension of 19 students for their suspected involvement in Abrar’s killing.

But it did little to pacify demonstrators who took part in the meeting with the VC from 5pm to 7pm. 

They demanded permanent expulsion of the accused and called for halting the university’s academic activities and admission tests, scheduled for Oct 14, until their demands are met. 

Those accused of killing Abrar are leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Buet unit. So far, 18 of them have been arrested and one of them reportedly confessed to his involvement in the killing.