DU Correspondent :
After four hours confinement at his office Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Professor Akhtaruzzaman was rescued by Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) activists yesterday afternoon beating the demonstrators on the spot.
At least 30 protestors including five journalists were injured in the attack of BCL men. Of them, 10 people including two female protestors later received treatment at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital.
Dhaka University Journalists’ Association (DUJA) vice-president Mir Arshadul Haq and Finance Secretary Abdul Karim are also among the injured and was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
On the other hand, a protestor Tanvir Hossanin Moin, (Session 2016-17) of Pottery Department of Fine Arts Faculty, assaulted a TV reporter Sabbir Rahman and threatened some journalists as they were capturing footage when the protestor broke the collapsible gate of the vc office.
Meanwhile, several hundred BCL activists led by its President Saifur Rahman Sohag, General Secretary Zakir Hossain and DU Chapter President Abid Al Hasan went on a mayhem on the campus in the afternoon when they came to ‘rescue’ the VC at his office.
Witnesses said, the Chhatra League activists assaulted the demonstrators including female students with iron rods and hockey sticks. “The female students are also molested by the Chhatra League men,” they said.
Earlier, the agitating students confined the vice-chancellor at his office blaming what they said the authorities were yet to respond to their four-point demands.
The demands include withdrawal of a case filed by the administration against students in connection with attacking the proctor’s office, actions against Chhatra League activists, who had reportedly assaulted students and molested female students on January 15, resignation of university proctor, and cancellation of the affiliation of seven colleges to the university.
Around 100 students took position in front of the vice-chancellor’s office at noon to press home their demands.
The demonstrators broke three collapsible gates of the VC office and continued their demonstration till the BCL attack came on them.
Earlier on the day, the students formed a human chain at the altar of Aparajeya Bangla to realise their demands and later paraded the campus with a procession.
On Sunday, they also staged demonstration and announced to lay siege on the VC office on Tuesday if the authorities failed to respond to their demands.
Earlier on Thursday, the university administration lodged a case against 50 to 60 unidentified students who allegedly broke the collapsible gate of proctor’s office during a demonstration on Wednesday.
