Political Expulsions and Campus Protests Following University Dining Assault

Two prominent student political figures at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) have been stripped of their organisational positions after a resident student was violently targeted for criticising campus catering standards.

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) central committee took swift disciplinary action against Hasibur Rahman, the communications secretary for the university unit, and Tarek Rahman, the assistant office secretary. The two young men, both enrolled in the 2021–22 academic session, are undergraduates in the political science and statistics departments respectively. In an official communication released on Sunday, JCD central office secretary Jahangir Alam confirmed the immediate expulsions, pointing to a severe breach of organisational discipline as the catalyst for the executive decision.

The swift political fallout followed a targeted physical attack on Saturday evening, which left Khairul Khondokar, a first-year sociology student from the 2023–24 academic year, hospitalised. Khairul, an undergraduate residing at Shahparan Hall, required urgent medical intervention at a private healthcare facility in Sylhet city after sustaining injuries to his upper body.

Backlash Over Social Media Catering Complaints

The roots of the violent altercation trace back to ongoing frustrations regarding standard of living conditions in student accommodation. The formal institutional complaint submitted by Khairul details how he had recently voiced his concerns in a student-run social media group, drawing attention to the low-quality catering services at Shahparan Hall, particularly the distribution of spoiled and unhygienic fish.

Following a series of online debates regarding the poor state of the dining facilities, the situation escalated into physical intimidation. On Saturday night, Hasibur and Tarek allegedly ambushed Khairul near the primary entrance gates of the university campus. According to the victim’s testimony, the pair assaulted him by kicking him in the chest and launching repeated blows at his face and head. A crowd of nearby students eventually broke up the altercation, rescuing Khairul and arranging his transportation to the hospital.

News of the targeted assault spread rapidly across the campus, triggering widespread resentment. By Saturday night, a large cohort of general students assembled outside the university administrative building to stage an impromptu sit-in demonstration, demanding immediate justice, systemic dining reforms, and stricter security protocols for residents.

University Management Initiates High-Level Probe

The administrative apparatus at SUST has initiated formal procedures to address the security breach. Professor Mokhlesur Rahman, the university proctor, verified the timeline of events and confirmed that a formal written complaint had been lodged by the aggrieved student.

“The Vice-Chancellor has taken this breach of campus safety with the utmost seriousness,” Professor Rahman noted. A specialized three-member investigation panel has been formed to unpack the dynamics of the assault. Under the leadership of the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Professor Jasim Uddin, the panel has been given a strict three-day deadline to conclude its fact-finding mission and hand over its findings to the university executive.

Journalistic attempts to reach either Hasibur or Tarek for an official response to the allegations were unsuccessful, as both remained unreachable. Furthermore, repeated telephonic inquiries directed to Dr Iftekhar Ahmed, the Provost of Shahparan Hall, regarding the structural management of the kitchen facilities and the subsequent violence went unanswered.