Three leaders of Bangladesh Democratic Student Council (BDSC) and two teachers of Jagannath University (JnU), were reportedly assaulted by members of the university unit of the Chhatra Dal on Thursday.
The incident allegedly stemmed from accusations of involvement with the Chhatra League.
The incident occurred around 4:30pm near the Shaheed Sajid Building on the university campus.
According to eyewitnesses, Rafiq Bin Sadeq Resad, a fourth-year student of the Management Department, was confined earlier in the day inside the department by Chhatra Dal activists over alleged links with the Chhatra League. He was later subjected to physical assault.
When faculty members intervened to defuse the situation, they too reportedly faced verbal abuse and assault. Among them were Dr KAM Rifat Hasan, the university's student welfare adviser, and Assistant Proctor Shafiqul Islam.
They are now admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
BDSC leaders claimed that JnU unit Convenor Md Faisal Murad, Chief Organizer Ferdous Hasan, and Joint Convenor Faruq were also beaten after being branded as Chhatra League affiliates.
Md Faisal Murad said: “The attack on BDSC Joint Convenor Faruq was led by Chhatra Dal Joint General Secretary Mahmudul Hasan and Member Secretary Shamsul Arefin. I explained that Faruq was an active participant in the July movement and was seriously injured on July 19. But they ignored everything and carried out the attack.”
He added: “I myself was shot in Paltan on October 28, 2013. Today, I was labelled a Chhatra League member and kicked in the groin. Under the leadership of Shamsul Arefin, activists punched and beat me. These are not students—they are thugs using the name of Chhatra Dal. We demand justice.”
Ferdous Hasan, BDSC chief organizer and a shooting victim of the July movement, said: “They first attacked one of our fellow activists. When teachers tried to intervene, they were also assaulted.”
He added: “Among the injured were Director of Student Welfare Dr Rifat Hasan, Assistant Proctor Shafiqul Islam, and three BDSC leaders. We strongly demand accountability for this.”
Shamsul Arefin, member secretary of the JnU Chhatra Dal unit, said: “Today we received information that Chhatra League operatives had entered the university. At various times, they have made Facebook posts announcing their intention to come onto campus.”
He added: “Earlier, a student named Sajid had posted on Facebook and entered the campus; in continuation of that, they have been gathering on campus repeatedly. They are also attempting to incite various forms of unrest.”
He also said: “When we tried to detain the culprits, the situation was twisted into a mob being formed against Chhatra Dal by those injured or attacked today.”
Speaking about the incident, JnU Proctor Professor Dr Muhammad Tazammol Hoque said: “The proctorial team rushed to the spot upon receiving information and brought the situation under control.”
He added: “With mediation by the teachers’ association president, the issue is on its way to being resolved. The university administration will take necessary steps following an investigation.”
Dr Rifat Hasan, the Management Department teacher and student welfare adviser who was reportedly assaulted, declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, a five-member investigation committee has been formed to look into this incident.
Professor Dr Md Mosharraf Hossain, president of the Teachers’ Association and faculty member of the Department of Management Studies, has been appointed as the convener of the committee. AKM Abdullah Al Mamun, deputy registrar (Establishment), has been named the member secretary.
The announcement was made in a notice signed by the university’s acting registrar, Professor Dr Md Sheikh Giash Uddin.
The other members of the committee are-- Professor Dr Md Rais Uddin, general secretary of the Teachers’ Association and chairman of the Department of Islamic Studies; Professor Dr Imranul Hoque, chairman of the Department of Marketing; and Professor Dr Muhammad Tazammol Hoque, the university’s proctor.
