Chhatra League activists of the Jagannath University (JnU) unit allegedly assaulted at least eight reporters from different print media outlets yesterday when they were collecting information.
The first attack was made at the proctor’s office in his presence and another took place at the vice-chancellor’s office. The attackers kept the journalists confined inside the VC office for over half an hour because they went there to submit a complaint about the first assault, according to witnesses.
Sources said Chhatra League activists took a student of the Sociology Department named Saiful Islam to the proctor’s office, suspecting him of being a Chhatra Shibir activist, around 2:30pm.
Chhatra League unit President Shariful Islam, however, began beating Saiful when he denied involvement with Shibir.
Shortly afterwards, JnU beat reporter for Naya Diganta and also Secretary of JnU Journalists’ Association M Suzaul Islam, SM Al-Amin of Samakal, Mahbub Mamtazi of Bangladesh Pratidin, Jasim Reza of Kaler Kantho and Imran Ahmed of Banglanews24.com went to the proctor’s office to collect information. They asked Shariful to hand Saiful over to the police rather than beating him inside the proctor’s room.
Instead of paying heed to the reporters, Chhatra League activists asked them to leave the proctor’s office but as the journalists refused to do so, the activists began beating them. The reporters then went to the vice-chancellor’s office to lodge a complaint but were again beaten up by the activists there. The activists also confined them in the vice-chancellor’s office for more than 30 minutes.
JnU Chhatra League unit acting secretary MI Shishir and Kotwali police arrived on the scene shortly and rescued the confined journalists around 4:30pm.
Vice-chancellor Mizanur Rahman said action would be taken after receiving a written complaint from the reporters. He said a meeting would be held with the journalists today.
JnU Chhatra League unit President Shariful Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that the student taken to the proctor’s office was a Shibir activist. “Anyone trying to help Shibir activists will be showed no mercy, no matter who he is and what position he holds. This is because the JnU campus is a Shibir-free place,” he observed.