Staff Reporter:
Two teachers and three leaders of the Gonotantrik Chhatra Sangsad (GCS) on Thursday were allegedly attacked by leaders and activists of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) at Jagannath University (JnU).
Meanwhile, the university administration has formed a five-member investigation committee led by Professor Md Mosharraf Hossain, president of the university’s teachers’ association.
The incident occurred around 4:30PM at the Shaheed Sajid Building on campus. Students reported that activists of the Chhatra Dal detained Rafique bin Sadek, a fourth-year student of the Management Department, accusing him of being affiliated with the banned student organization “Bangladesh Chhatra League.” He was reportedly subjected to physical assault shortly after.
Eyewitness said that at one point, University Student Welfare Director Dr AKM Rifat Hasan and Assistant Proctor Shafiqul Islam intervened to defuse the situation. However, they too were verbally abused and physically attacked by the JCD activists.
Soon after, three GCS leaders — President Md Faisal Murad, Chief Organizer Ferdous Hasan, and Joint Convener Faruk — were also allegedly assaulted by the same group for allegedly having ties to BCL.
Speaking to the press, Faisal Murad claimed the assault was led by JnU JCD’s Joint General Secretary Mahmudul Hasan and Member Secretary Shamsul Arefin. Under the banner of Chhatra Dal, non-students are spreading terror on campus. This is organized violence, he alleged.
Ferdous Sheikh, chief organizer of BGCS, said “When teachers intervened to save us, they were also attacked. The CCTV footage will reveal the truth.”
Assistant Proctor Md Shafiqul Islam, said, “I demand proper justice for such an attack by the Chhatra Dal. I have reported the incident to the president of the teachers’ association orally. Tomorrow, I will submit a written complaint to the Vice-Chancellor.”
In response to the allegations, Shamsul Arefin, member secretary of the JnU Chhatra Dal, said, “We were informed that Chhatra League members had entered the campus with intentions of creating unrest. Some had even posted about this on Facebook earlier. When our activists tried to prevent them, chaos ensued and they tried to shift the blame onto Chhatra Dal.”
University Proctor Tazammol Hoque confirmed the altercation and stated, “Upon hearing the incident, the proctorial team immediately reached the site to restore order. The situation is now under control. The President of the Teachers’ Association has addressed the matter. The university administration will take appropriate measures after reviewing the events.”
