BCL on rampage to rescue Dhaka University VC
The Independent correspondent among 40 hurt
Staff Reporter
At least 40 people, including journalists, were injured as activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) yesterday launched an attack on students to rescue the Dhaka University vice-chancellor. The students under the banner of Students against Repression, had besieged the DU VC protesting repression on the campus by BCL and other decisions by the DU administration.
At least 15 of the injured were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), including The Independent Dhaka University correspondent Mir Arshadul Haque. He received head injuries and needed several stitches. Others admitted to DMCH include Bangladesh Chhatra Union General Secretary Liton Nandi, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation DU unit President Ummey Habiba and Masud Ali Mahdi, coordinator of students demanding DUCSU polls.
Defending the actions of BCL, the ruling Awami Leagues affiliate student body, its President Saifur Rahman Sohag told journalists at Madhur Canteen on the DU campus yesterday evening that the BCL activists went to the VC office to rescue the vice-chancellor and offer arbitration. The activists removed the agitating students to uphold the respect of the VC, he said.
About 20 BCL activists, led by its General Secretary SM Zakir Hossain, moved in the afternoon to rescue the vice-chancellor after the protesters broke open the gate of Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzamans Office and besieged the VC for about three hours.
After the BCL team moved the vice-chancellor to his room, several hundred BCL activists armed with rods and sticks began a rampage, attacking the protesting students, witnesses said.
They beat up the protesting students with sticks and rod, threw stones at them, blocked the exits from the VC office to prevent the students from running away and assaulted many including girls.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of demonstrating students took position outside the office of the VC around 12 noon, confining him inside the office. The students threatened to keep occupying the VCs office until the demands are met. Earlier, protesting students formed a human chain demo in front of Aparajeyo Bangla around 11am and paraded around the campus.
The protesters alliance came into being after female students were allegedly assaulted by BCL activists at a rally on January 15 that had urged the DU authorities to cancel its affiliation with seven colleges in Dhaka.
Following the incident, students laid siege to the proctors office the next day demanding punishment to the accused BCL activists. They also demanded that the authorities open an inquiry into the attack and file a report within two days.
However, no action was taken against BCL members and the DU authorities, instead, filed a case against 50-60 unidentified students on Jan 18 accusing them of vandalising the proctors office.
The DU authorities said a probe body was formed, headed by Rokeya Hall Provost Zinat Huda, and three students were summoned to testify but none of them showed up.
Meanwhile, Dhaka University Public Relations Office sent a statement to the media outlets yesterday, where the DU authorities termed yesterdays agitation by students an attempt to carryout destructive and subversive acts in the name of a movement. The DU authorities warned that punitive measures will be taken as per the law, after investigation, against any and all the parties involved in oppressive, terrorist or destructive activities.
It also said that a 5-member probe body has been formed with university treasurer Professor M Kamal Uddin as the convener to investigate yesterdays incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report as soon as possible.
The statement said some agitated students and outsiders equipped with rod, iron pipe, hack saw blade and stones broke locks of three gates of the VCs office and took position there yesterday. The group also used loudspeakers to hurl verbal abuse at teachers, proctorial body members and the VC.
While the group was requested several times to send a team to meet the VC and place their demands, the group continued their verbal abuse and sit-in, disruption academic and administrative activities. At about 3:10 pm, when the VC tries to go to the senate building to attend a prescheduled meeting of the Board of Advanced Studies, the agitating students obstructed him. The VC listened to their demands with patience and told them that an investigation over the previous incidents is ongoing and measures will be taken against those responsible as per the law.
However, the agitating students rejected the statement and became physically aggressive, prompting university teachers, officials, proctorial body members and some students to create a human shield to safeguard the VC and bring him back to his room.
The statement said the DU authorities urge those involved in agitation and destruction of properties, terrorist acts and disruption in academic activities should show a more responsible attitude. The DU authorities also sought cooperation from all students, teachers, employees, guardians, journalists and others in this regard.
