Jahangirnagar University (JU) administration has detained a student and handed him over to the police over his alleged involvement with the banned organisation Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
The detainee has been identified as Asadul Alam Sheikh, a student of the 51st batch of the Department of Comparative Literature and Culture at the university.
He was detained at around 12am on midnight Tuesday from the university’s Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmad Hall and subsequently handed over to Ashulia Police Station.
Prior to his detention, members of the proctorial team, the hall union, and leaders of the Jahangirnagar University Central Students’ Union (JACSU) interrogated him regarding allegations of his links to Chhatra League.
According to relevant sources, Asadul’s mobile phone was examined during questioning, where evidence of communication with various Chhatra League leaders and activists was reportedly found.
Investigators claimed to have found details of regular contact with Netrokona District Chhatra League President Rabiul Awal Shawon and former JU Chhatra League Vice-President Enamul Haq Enam.
It was also revealed that Asadul maintained communication with Professor Hosne Ara of Department of History, who is accused of aiding attacks on protesting students at JU during the July–August mass uprising.
University sources said the JU administration had previously issued a “warning” to Hosne Ara as a disciplinary measure regarding that incident.
University sources further disclosed that Asadul worked as Jahangirnagar University correspondent for a US-based online news portal.
Students alleged that promotional news in favour of Awami League, whose activities are banned and Chhatra League was published on the portal, alongside propaganda directed against JU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan.
Commenting on the matter, JU Assistant Proctor Abdus Sattar said information was received indicating that Asadul was previously involved in Chhatra League activities and was currently attempting to covertly maintain the organisation’s network.
Sattar added that Asadul had leaked various pieces of information regarding hall union and JACSU leaders to Awami League and Chhatra League leaders both at home and abroad.
He confirmed that Asadul was handed over to law enforcement agencies, adding that a case would be filed against him and legal proceedings would follow under existing laws.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Ashulia Police Station Tarikul Islam said a complaint was lodged by the university administration and a case has been registered over the incident.
He added that the detainee would be produced before the court on Wednesday.
