'Rucsu, Shibir activists' assault 3 students inside RU library after campus clash
Three students, including one accused of links to the banned Chhatra League, were beaten inside Rajshahi University's central library as rival groups traded blame over escalating campus violence.
Highlights:
- Three students assaulted inside Rajshahi University central library
- Earlier proctor's office clash sparked fresh campus violence
- Rival groups exchange allegations over attack, political affiliations
- Injured student allegedly assaulted again near ambulance
- Campus remains tense after violence and protest
Three students, including one accused of links to the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), were beaten allegedly by leaders and activists of the Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) and the university unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir inside the university's central library today (27 July), in an incident that followed an earlier altercation at the proctor's office.
The incidents occurred in phases at the proctor's office, the Rucsu building and later inside the central library.
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The campus remained tense until at least 5:45pm, while Shibir activists continued a demonstration outside the vice-chancellor's office.
According to university sources, the dispute originated yesterday after a female student of the Sanskrit Department alleged that senior student Mohsin Alam threatened her after she rejected his proposal.
Following the allegation, Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman held a meeting with the accused and several other students, including Anas, Hasib and Mahmudul Hasan. The students reportedly denied the allegation and had a heated exchange with the proctor.
A second meeting was held this afternoon, during which Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar, Assistant General Secretary SM Salman Sabbir and other Rucsu leaders allegedly accused Anas of being affiliated with the banned BCL. They reportedly examined his mobile phone, found photographs of him with former BCL General Secretary Asadullah-Hil Galib and other leaders, and assaulted him inside the proctor's office.
The proctor later resolved the matter temporarily and the students left the office.
At around 3pm, Anas, Hasib, Mahmudul and several others allegedly went to the Rucsu building following the earlier incident.
Rucsu leaders alleged they launched an attack there, prompting Rucsu Information and Research Secretary BM Nazmus Sakib and others to confront them.
The confrontation later shifted to the central library, where Rucsu leaders and Shibir activists gathered.
Witnesses alleged that after both sides exchanged verbal abuse, brickbats were thrown before the proctor escorted the students into the library's reading room to defuse tensions.
They alleged that Rucsu and Shibir activists then pushed past the proctor, entered the reading room and assaulted the three students with wooden planks, bamboo sticks, metal rods, belts and other objects.
Students who tried to intervene were also allegedly beaten.
The injured students were eventually rescued by members of the proctorial body, police personnel and other students.
Witnesses further alleged that seriously injured Mahmudul Hasan was attacked again while being taken to an ambulance for transfer to hospital.
They claimed two individuals stopped the ambulance, dragged him out and assaulted him before police, university officials and students intervened.
Following the incident, Shibir activists surrounded the vice-chancellor's office demanding action against alleged BCL activists.
Helal Uddin, a Physics student who was studying in the reading room, alleged that the attackers labelled students as BCL activists before assaulting them.
"Even if someone is a Chhatra League activist, nobody has the right to beat them. There are laws in the country to ensure justice," he said.
Anas denied being a former BCL activist.
"Some of my friends may have been involved with Chhatra League, so there may be photographs of us together. But I have never appeared on any Chhatra League banner or poster," he said.
Shibir Secretary Mehedi Hasan denied that Shibir activists took part in the assault.
"We rushed here after hearing that our Rucsu brothers had been attacked. We found the situation after arriving," he said, declining to comment when asked about video footage allegedly showing Shibir activists at the scene.
Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar claimed that alleged BCL activists had first attacked the Rucsu building and accused the university administration of failing to hand them over to police.
Rajshahi University unit Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi condemned the violence, alleging that a personal dispute had been politicised and demanding the cancellation of the student status and Rucsu positions of those responsible for the attack.
The university administration did not immediately comment on the incident.
