JU assistant proctor ‘assaults’ student leader

An assistant proctor of Jahangirnagar University (JU) allegedly assaulted a student leader, who along with other students, was on a strike for the third consecutive day demanding resignation of its Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Farzana Islam.

President of JU Chhatra Union, student wing of the Communist Party, Nazir Amin Chowdhury Joy alleged Mohibur Rouf Shaibal, the assistant proctor, assaulted him in front of the old Arts and Humanities building at 1pm.

Nazir also claimed his attacker gathered a group of students and attacked some of the protesting students.

A video clip that made its rounds on social media also showed the assistant proctor dragging Nazir to the ground, separating him from the protesters. In the video, Mohibur Rouf was heard saying, "Let's sit separately".

The assistant proctor outright denied the allegation of assaulting Nazir.

"I did not attack him. I did not grab the president of the student union by his collar, rather I held him by his shoulder and moved him from the spot. I just tried to calm the situation down," he said.

The protesting students formed separate groups and started chanting slogans against the assistant proctor and the VC.

Rayhan Rayne, a professor from the Department of Philosophy, told The Business Standard it was an unexpected incident. "I cannot think how a teacher can hit a student. It is violation of the university rules," he said.

Meanwhile, more than 200 teachers and students under the banner of "Durnitir Biruddhe Jahangirnagar" (Jahangirnagar Against Corruption) locked all the administrative buildings of the university.

"No immoral person can be the VC of Jahangirnagar University. The incumbent VC lost her morality. As a result, we do not want to see her in the chair," protesters said.

They threatened to continue their movement until the VC steps down, they added.