Play store
Three students were allegedly beaten by leaders and activists of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) and the university unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir following an attack on RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar and another student leader at Rajshahi University (RU).
The incidents took place in phases at the university’s Proctor Office and later at the Central Library on Monday.
According to university sources, the chain of events began on Sunday after a female student of the Department of Sanskrit accused a senior student, Mohsin Alam, of threatening her after she rejected his marriage proposal.
Following the allegation, Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman held a meeting with the accused student and several others on Sunday night. Among those present were Anas and Hasib of the Department of Islamic History and Culture, and Mahmudul Hasan of the Department of Sanskrit.
University sources said the students denied the allegation and engaged in a heated exchange with the proctor. A follow-up meeting was called on Monday.
During the meeting, RUCSU leaders reportedly examined Anas’s mobile phone and found photographs showing him with several leaders of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League, including its General Secretary Asadullah Hil Galib.
Following this, Anas was allegedly assaulted inside the Proctor Office by RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar and RUCSU leader Salman Sabbir. The matter was later temporarily resolved by the proctor, and the students left the office.
Later in the afternoon, at around 3:00 pm, Anas, Hasib, Mahmudul and several others allegedly entered the RUCSU building and attacked Ammar and other student leaders. RUCSU Information and Research Secretary Nazmus Sakib was injured in the incident.
After the attack, the group took shelter in the reading room of the university’s Central Library.
Witnesses said RUCSU and Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders later entered the library after pushing past the proctor at the entrance and allegedly assaulted the students inside the reading room.
Anas, who was among those assaulted, alleged that Ammar and his associates attacked him first at the Proctor Office and later again inside the library.
Rejecting allegations that he was a former Chhatra League activist, Anas said he had photographs with some former Chhatra League leaders because they had been his friends, but insisted he had never been involved in the organisation.
Denying Shibir’s involvement in the assault, the university unit’s General Secretary Mehedi Hasan said its members had only gone to the scene after hearing that RUCSU leaders had come under attack.
RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar alleged that “Chhatra League terrorists” attacked the RUCSU building and criticised the university administration for failing to hand over the accused to police.
Commenting on the incident, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Administration) Professor Abdul Alim described the violence as “highly condemnable” and said the university administration was holding a meeting with police and the proctorial body.
He said an investigation committee would be formed soon and that those found responsible would face action under the university’s rules.