Students at Jagannath University (JnU) have demanded a ban on the entry of non-students in political activities on campus following an attack allegedly carried out by Chhatra Dal on two faculty members and three leaders of the Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad.
The demand was made at a press conference held in front of the vice chancellor’s office on Sunday, by students of the Department of Management Studies.
The students called for the permanent expulsion of the students involved in the attack on the faculty members. They also demanded a ban on the entry of non-students in political activities on campus and action against the non-student attackers. Otherwise, they warned of announcing stricter programs.
Maruf, a student of the 2021–22 academic session of the Management Studies Department, said: “No one has ever dared to lay hands on a teacher in this campus. Even before August 5, no one had ever touched our teachers. So how did they suddenly dare to attack a teacher after August 5?”
Irfan, a student of the 2020–21 academic session of the same department, said: “Those injured in July from our department and those who were previously involved with Chhatra Dal were falsely tagged as Chhatra League and attacked. They also attacked Dr KAM Rifat Hasan, director of Student Welfare, and Assistant Proctor Shawfiqul Islam.”
He further said: “If teachers with administrative duties are not safe, how will general students be protected from these terrorists? Yet the university administration has not even issued a condemnation. The teachers' association has also remained silent.”
Earlier, around 4:30pm on Thursday, under the Shahid Sajid Academic Building, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists allegedly attacked Rafik Bin Sadek Resad, a fourth-year student of the Management Studies Department, accusing him of affiliation with Chhatra League.
When faculty member Dr KAM Rifat Hasan and Assistant Proctor Shawfiqul Islam intervened to protect him, they were verbally abused and physically attacked by Chhatra Dal activists.
At the same time, Bangladesh Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad branch President Md Faisal Murad, Chief Organizer Ferdous Hasan, and Joint Convener Faruk were also allegedly assaulted and beaten after being tagged as Chhatra League affiliates.