Professor Farid Uddin Khan of economics department at Rajshahi University (RU) staged a sit-in program to protest the local and police attacks on the students of the university.
He performed this program standing barefoot at Joha Square of the university from 10am to 11am on Tuesday.
He added that he will refrain from taking classes until the students recover.
Professor Farid also said that despite such an incident, the university administration failed to play a role in the presence of the police, and the consequences were dire. The reason why this happened should be investigated and instructions should be given to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.
“Earlier, we have seen students being beaten up in hospitals, abused by locals, students being tortured in halls too, it is not at all desirable. As a parent, I am nervous, scared and sad, so I stand here today,” he added.
Dhaka TribuneMeanwhile, the students of the Department of Economics expressed their solidarity with Professor Farid Uddin demanding a safe learning environment.
Md Mekaram Hossain, a second-year student of the department, said: “The incident is not our wish, the whole area has attacked us based on a small matter. Today, we stand here in solidarity with sir. We demand speedy punishment of those terrorists.”
Russell Hossain, another second-year student, said: “We have come to this campus to study, not to get beaten. Today, our demand to the administration is that they have to ensure that we stay completely safe in this campus and can study safely. Apart from this, a system of 100% residency be made to avoid beatings from the locals. Above all, we have gathered to demand that an orderly environment is maintained.”
More than 200 people, including campus journalists, were injured in the clash that broke out between Rajshahi University students and locals on Saturday.
In the evening, an altercation between a student of the university and employees of a bus over bus fare reportedly snowballed into a clash with local shopkeepers.
During the clash, the students allegedly set fire to several shops in the area, and the police box adjacent to the Binodpur gate of the university was also vandalized.
On receiving the information, police rushed to the spot and fired tear gas and rubber bullets.
