Dhaka: The Dhaka University authorities has expelled a leader of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) for allegedly torturing a female protester inside the hall on early Wednesday.

The expelled leader was identified as Iffat Jahan Esha, president of Sufia Kamal hall unit of BCL.

The punitive action was taken against the female BCL leader in the dead of night, said DU Proctor Golam Rabbani.

Witnesses said several numbers of BCL leaders and activists led by the hall unit president swooped on the general residents early Wednesday, leaving Morsheda Akhter, a year IV student of Botany Department, critically injured.

They beat Morsheda mercilessly for being involved in staging demonstration demanding quota reform, witnesses said.

Hearing her screams, the other students of the dormitory rushed in and confined the BCL leader. Later, they handed Esha over to the hall provost after a good beating.

The image of Morsheda went viral on different social networking sites which drew attention to other general students.

Meanwhile, around 5,000 students of the university thronged in front of the Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall and took position in front of the gate in protest of the incident.

They also brought out a rally from the hall demanding punishment of the BCL leader. The procession ended in front of the Raju Sculpture after parading High Court premises, Doyel Chattar and Central Shaheed Minar around 3:00am.

Later, the DU authorities as per the order of Dhaka University Vice-chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman expelled Esha, the proctor said.

Earlier, the BCL central executive committee expelled Esha on charge of ‘violating organisational discipline’.

Students of public and private universities across the country, including the capital, have been staging demonstrations since April 8 to press home their demand to get the quota system reformed.