CU student sexual assault: BCL leader Azim recorded, orchestrated the whole incident

Bangladesh Chhatra League's (BCL) Chittagong University (CU) unit leader Md Azim led the harassment of a female student near the institute's Preetilata Hall while she was returning to the hall last week, says Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). 

Azim recorded and orchestrated the whole incident, RAB-7 Senior Assistant Director (Media) Mohammad Nurul Abshar told the media on Saturday.

Md Azim, 23, second-year student of CU, history department, Md Nurul Abshar Babu, 22, second-year student CU, anthropology department, Md Nur Hossain Shawon, 22, honours first-year student of Hathajari College, social science department student, and Md Masud Rana, honours second-year student of Hathajari College – were nabbed on Friday.

The RAB official said that all those involved and arrested in the incident are activists and supporters of BCL. 

Total two motorcycles, used in the incident, and three mobile phones, containing the obscene videos of the female student, were seized from their possession, added the RAB official.

RAB-7 Senior Assistant Director (Media) Mohammad Nurul Abshar said, "The victim was returning to her residential hall with her friend around 10:30pm on 17 July. At one point, two outsiders, named Shaon and Saiful, called the other arrestees and started beating the female student. 

"Muhtahin Haque, the victim's friend, was also physically assaulted when he tried to stop the perpetrators."

"Later, the victims were taken behind the Bangamata Fazilatunnessa Hall. The two were stripped of their clothes. Led by Azim, three mobiles were used to make a video of the incident. 

"Azim even threatened the female student of making the video go viral if she did not perform intercourse with him. The student and her friend were held hostage and tortured for about an hour," the RAB officer added.

A case was been filed in this regard against five unidentified people with Hathajari police station. 

Bangladesh Chhatra League central unit issued a show cause notice to Rezaul Haque Rubel, president of BCL CU unit, accusing him of "managing" the incident and having a connection with "anti-disciplinary" acts.

Allegedly, when the victim went to the proctor's office to file a complaint, Rezaul Haque Rubel stopped her.

The students of different halls of the university protested the incident by blocking the entrance of the university vice-chancellor's residence for three hours from 10pm to 1am Wednesday (20 July). 

They put forward a four-point demand including exemplary punishment for those involved in the crime.