Jagannath University student union leaders accused Chhatra Dal members of attacking hospitalized Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra Shakti leaders in Old Dhaka on Tuesday after an earlier campus confrontation.
Leaders of the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union said Chhatra Dal leaders launched a sudden attack Tuesday afternoon on injured student leaders receiving treatment at National Medical College Hospital on Johnson Road.
They alleged that the attack took place in front of administrators and that no action was taken against Chhatra Dal.
Earlier Tuesday, several leaders and activists from Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Shakti, the student union and other student groups were injured in what union representatives described as an attack by Chhatra Dal members over the display of placards carrying student demands.
The representatives said the confrontation began Tuesday morning when they tried to enter a University Grants Commission chairman’s event in the university’s central auditorium with the placards.
Those reported seriously injured included union Vice President Md. Riazul Islam, General Secretary Abdul Alim Arif, Assistant General Secretary Masud Rana and Law Secretary Faruk. Jagannath University Chhatra Shakti President Shahin Mia and General Secretary Ferdous Sheikh were also reported seriously injured.
The placards called for the university’s second-campus project to be handed over quickly to the army, faster work on a temporary housing project in Keraniganj, and improvements to the medical center and its health services. Union representatives said they wanted to place the demands before the commission chairman.
The representatives said they were stopped while entering the auditorium. An argument and scuffle then broke out involving the representatives, Chhatra Dal members and university administrators. They alleged that their placards were seized and torn before they were attacked.
Videos circulated on social media appeared to show Chhatra Dal Convener Mehedi Hasan Himel blocking Riazul and other leaders as they tried to enter the auditorium. One video appeared to show Himel pushing Management Studies teacher Dr. K.A.M. Rifat Hasan when he tried to calm the situation. The footage was not independently verified.
Himel was heard saying, “Close this door. Shut the gate quickly.” The gate was then closed.
The union leaders said they had planned a peaceful display of placards to present what they described as reasonable student demands. They accused Chhatra Dal members of blocking the action, tearing the placards and attacking them.
Abdul Alim Arif wrote on Facebook, “Has the proctor become Chhatra Dal, or has Chhatra Dal assumed the proctor’s role? We were invited but stopped from entering the auditorium. Only Chhatra Dal could shove people like this.”
Riazul Islam said members of the proctor’s office and what he called Chhatra Dal cadres had attacked Jagannath University students, torn posters carrying their demands and pushed student union representatives.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report