At least 17 people including a teacher, 14 students of Barisal University, 2 cops have been injured and 4 transports damaged in clashes with police in BU campus premises on Thursday.
Abu Raihan Md. Saleh, deputy commissioner (north) of Barisal Metropolitan Police, has told the Dhaka Tribune.
The BU students clashed with police during protesting assault by transport workers that triggered over a bus’s stoppage at BU campus gate at Karnakathi located on the eastern bank of Kirtankhola River.
Law enforcers charged baton, fired 13 rounds of rubber bullets and eight round teargas shells to control the situation.
Witnesses said Naimuddin Mitu, a BU student of law faculty, was assaulted by the transport workers while he was given stoppage far away from the campus, without giving stoppage at university gate.
When the news spread on the campus, agitated students carrying sticks, bricks blocked highways connecting at least nine routes of Barisal-Bhola-Patuakhali-Jhalakathi-Barguna districts at about 10:15am.
Police and RAB rushed to the spot and tried to disperse the protesters but the agitated students threw brickbats at them, triggering clash with the law enforcers.
Police constable Siddikur Rahman, RAB habildar Asadul Huq were injured in the incident.
At least 14 BU students named Naimuddin Mitu, Shakhawat Hossain, Amit Hasan, Saifuddin Nasim, Leon, Abdur Razzak of Law, Saifuzzaman, Sabuj Russell, Shafikur Rahman, Nishat Abdullah of Political Science, Sajal of Sociology, Tanvir, Maniruzzaman, Newaz of Soil Science were admitted at the Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital.
Ibrahim Hossain Molla, chairman of BU finance department, visited the hospital.
Besides injured Tanvir Qaisar, assistant professor of English department and secretary of BU teachers association, sent home after giving treatment at the hospital, Prof. Ibrahim added.
Bahauddin Golap, assistant register and president of the BU officers association, alleged police barred the university officials to enter and take care of the injured at SBMCH.
Subrato Baroi, a section officer of the university was also assaulted by assistant police commissioner Mahmud Hossain at the hospital, Golap alleged.
BU students alleged that transport workers not only often assault them for demanding students-concession fare, but also tease female students.
They also deny giving stoppages at BU campus gate.
Nazrul Islam Khokan, executive president of Barisal-Patuakhali bus-minibus owners association, claimed stoppage at BU campus gate was not possible as it was on a sharp slop of Shahid Abdur Rob Bridge.
Under the circumstance, the transports stops at the inter-district highway crossing, only few yards far from the BU campus gate, he added.
Students often deny to their identity cards to avail concession-rate fares and if allegation of teasing female students would be proved, then action would also be taken, road transport owners association leader assured.
Abu Raihan Md. Saleh, deputy commissioner (north) of Barisal Metropolitan Police, said police went action to control the situation.
A tri-party meeting with the university, road transport owners and workers association and law enforcing agencies would be held at afternoon at the BMP office, he informed.
Professor Dr. Harunor Rashid, vice chancellor of the university was staying in Dhaka.
