BCL workers attack quota reform activists again

A joint convener of the quota reform movement alleged that he was assaulted by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists yesterday (Sunday) afternoon while returning from a pre-scheduled protest programme. Ratul Sarker, a joint convener of the Bangladesh General Students’ Rights Protection Council (BGSRPC), made this claim on live video, alleging that at least seven Chhatra League men attacked him along with other quota reform movement activists Sohrab Hossain and Niyaji at New Elephant Road area of the city, while they were going towards Dhanmondi by a CNG-run auto-rickshaw.

Later, an activist named Sumon posted on Facebook that “all are safe following an attack by Chhatra League men on them”. Eyewitnesses claimed some BCL activists beat up the agitators before obstructing their auto-rickshaw. Ratul Sarker and Niyaji escaped but the BCL workers succeeded in picking up Sohrab. They told a traffic police official that they were taking him to the New Market police station. However, Sohrab was not found later at New Market Police Station.

BCL leaders accused Ratul Sarker of being a snatcher and beat him up.

The organising secretary of the DU unit of the BCL, Saidur Rahman, the hall unit joint secretary Zahurul Haq and activist Amir Hamza had allegedly led the attack, the witnesses claimed.

Other witnesses also claimed that the vice-president of the recently expired committee of the central unit of the BCL, Didar Md. Nizamul Islam, led another attack on the quota reform activists in front of Suhrawardy Udyan.

Earlier, several hundred students from Dhaka University (DU) had gathered around 3pm at the base of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture and protested against the attacks on students and teachers across the country during the quota reform protests.

DU students, under the banner of ‘All combined departments’, organised a students’ procession as a pre-scheduled programme.

While addressing the programme, Nabid Anwar Niva, a fourth-year student of the Microbiology department, said: “The ruling party’s student organisation launched an attack on us as well as our teachers when we tried to protest against an illogical issue. We want the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leaders.”

Md Raiyan, a first-year student of the International Relations department, said: “Don’t try to bother our leaders by detaining them in false cases. If anyone can prove their involvement with DU VC residence vandalism case, we’ll leave the demonstration.”

BCL workers attack quota reform activists again

A joint convener of the quota reform movement alleged that he was assaulted by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists yesterday (Sunday) afternoon while returning from a pre-scheduled protest programme. Ratul Sarker, a joint convener of the Bangladesh General Students Rights Protection Council (BGSRPC), made this claim on live video, alleging that at least seven Chhatra League men attacked him along with other quota reform movement activists Sohrab Hossain and Niyaji at New Elephant Road area of the city, while they were going towards Dhanmondi by a CNG-run auto-rickshaw. Later, an activist named Sumon posted on Facebook that all are safe following an attack by Chhatra League men on them. Eyewitnesses claimed some BCL activists beat up the agitators before obstructing their auto-rickshaw. Ratul Sarker and Niyaji escaped but the BCL workers succeeded in picking up Sohrab. They told a traffic police official that they were taking him to the New Market police station. However, Sohrab was not found later at New Market Police Station. BCL leaders accused Ratul Sarker of being a snatcher and beat him up. The organising secretary of the DU unit of the BCL, Saidur Rahman, the hall unit joint secretary Zahurul Haq and activist Amir Hamza had allegedly led the attack, the witnesses claimed. Other witnesses also claimed that the vice-president of the recently expired committee of the central unit of the BCL, Didar Md. Nizamul Islam, led another attack on the quota reform activists in front of Suhrawardy Udyan. Earlier, several hundred students from Dhaka University (DU) had gathered around 3pm at the base of the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture and protested against the attacks on students and teachers across the country during the quota reform protests. DU students, under the banner of All combined departments, organised a students procession as a pre-scheduled programme. While addressing the programme, Nabid Anwar Niva, a fourth-year student of the Microbiology department, said: The ruling partys student organisation launched an attack on us as well as our teachers when we tried to protest against an illogical issue. We want the immediate and unconditional release of the detained leaders. Md Raiyan, a first-year student of the International Relations department, said: Dont try to bother our leaders by detaining them in false cases. If anyone can prove their involvement with DU VC residence vandalism case, well leave the demonstration.