Chhatra League is accused of student torture at several education institutes in Khulna. It is alleged that after students are roughed up by league activists, they are handed over to the police, falsely accused of being 'Jamaat workers involved in sedition.' In some cases, students are driven out of halls.
Chhatra League denies the allegations. There are reports that between 2014-2019 January, at least 21 students of Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET) were victims of torture.
Advised by some teachers and guardians, many victims kept quiet about the issue. But after the death of Abrar Fahad in a recent incident, people have started to talk.
It is alleged that around 2,500 seats of Fazlul Huq Hall, Khan Jahan Ali Hall, Dr MA Rashid Hall, Lalon Shah Hall, Rokeya Hall, Amor Ekushey Hall, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall are controlled by the government supported student wing.
General students face tortures if they protest drug culture, quality of food and other irregularities. Reportedly, on Mar 24 night, three students were beaten up and handed over to the police.
The victims are Mahadi Hassan, Rezaul and Shahin of the industrial engineering and management department. Hassan says they incurred the ire of student leaders as they are not linked to any political body and protested ragging and other issues.
KUET Chhatra League president Shovon Hassan adds: “During our tenure there have been two incidents but there is no report of torture.'
Meanwhile, KUET VC Dr Kazi Sazzad Hossain said: “The condition of the halls is better compared to anytime in the past.”
Reportedly, the use of drugs is common within the campus of Government BL College and only Chhatra League rules supreme on the premises.
Chhatra League general secretary of B L College Nishat Ferfous Ani said: “Influential people come to take drugs in the college and when we told the administration, they took steps.”
Khulna Metropolitan police acting OC Shafiqul Islam said: “From time to time, sedition and subversion cases are lodged from KUET. After investigation, some of the arrested were found to be Jamaat members; the detained never complained of torture."
