BNP leader Uday Kusum Barua expelled over allegations of inciting CU unrest
The BNP says Uday Kusum Barua has been expelled from all posts, including primary membership, for 'organisational misconduct, creating chaos and violating party directives'
The BNP has expelled its National Executive Committee member Uday Kusum Barua after he described Chittagong University students as "terrorists" and was accused of inciting unrest in Zobra village near the campus.
A statement signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday evening (31 August) announced the decision. The party's central executive committee member Mir Mohammed Helal Uddin confirmed the expulsion.
The statement said in line with the BNP's constitution, Uday has been expelled from all posts, including primary membership, for "organisational misconduct, creating chaos and violating party directives."
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Earlier yesterday, Uday addressed a gathering near CU's Gate No 2, where he called for a blockade of the campus and urged continued protests until those responsible for recent clashes are punished.
During his speech, he referred to CU students as "terrorists."
A video of his remarks later spread widely on Facebook, triggering backlash and leading to his removal from the party.
Uday, a resident of the Gate No 2 area adjacent to the university, had long been active in local politics before rising to the BNP's national committee.
Ten platoons of the army were deployed on the CU campus yesterday following violent clashes that continued for the second day between students and locals, which left at least 400 students, along with the pro-vice-chancellor, injured.
The unrest stems from an incident late Saturday night, when a female student, returning to her rented house near CU's Gate No 2 at around 11:30pm after the main gate had been closed, was harassed by the building's security guard.
When the student called her friends for help, they tried to escort the guard to the university proctor's office. In response, locals gathered following loudspeaker announcements and attacked the students with crude weapons.
During the attacks, vehicles of the proctorial body and law enforcement agencies were also vandalised.
