Dhaka, Mar 21 (V7N) -A group of DU students under the banner of "Hindu Students of Dhaka University" demanded the expulsion and legal punishment of a DU student for making derogatory comments about Hinduism on social media.
Hindu students mainly from Jagannath Hall and some female halls gathered at Raju Memorial Sculpture around 7:30pm on Thursday, after a protest rally.
Additional demands include preventing teachers from misinterpreting Hinduism during literary analysis classes and taking action against derogatory posts targeting "minorities" on the "Dhaka Bisshobiddyaloy Shikkharthi Sangsad" Facebook group.
Bangladesh United Sanatani Awakening Alliance also called a similar program at the same place with the same demands.
The accused is Md Abu Sayem, a student of the 2019-2020 academic year from the Department of Bangla. According to the complaints, he has been continuously making derogatory comments about Hinduism. These comments have upset the Hindu community from the university and Bangladesh.
Some protesters expressed their anger, saying that they also have religious values, and questioning why there are no steps taken when minority religions are offended.
Some protesters expressed gratitude to non-Hindu students expressing solidarity and demanding punishment for the student who offended Hindu religion on social media.
Fact-finding Committee formed to investigate allegations
Earlier on Thursday, a Fact-Finding Committee had been formed to investigate the complaints made by Hindu students from various academic years against this student.
This complaint was submitted to the vice-chancellor of DU.
Dr Shantu Barua, assistant proctor, has been made the convener of the Fact-Finding Committee. Dr Md Rafiqul Islam, assistant proctor, Debashis Pal, Jagannath Hall provost, and Dr Abdullah Al Mamun, Salimullah Muslim Hall provost have been made members. Mostak Ahmed, additional director of ICT Cell, DU has also been made a member of the committee.
This committee will investigate the allegations brought by the students and provide observations and recommendations to the vice-chancellor.
Dr Shantu Barua told Dhaka Tribune that this committee will investigate the allegations and later the university administration will decide whether they expel the accused.
However, the accused student has already asked for forgiveness on social media earlier. He said that he did not understand his status would hurt people's religious values so much.
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