DU Correspondent :
Rajshahi Institute of Health Technology (IHT) on Wednesday was closed sine die following an attack on female students reportedly by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists that left five female students injured.
The injured students are-Mim Akter, third year student of Pharmacy Department, Rupa Khatun and Naznin Akter, second year students of the same department, Mohona Khatun and Afrin Sharmin, first year students of Lab Department.
Meanwhile, the IHT administration on Wednesday asked students to vacate the residential halls. The female students carried out the order by 3:00pm and the male students by 1:00pm.
Witnesses said that female students laid a siege to the principal’s office and staged demonstration at about 10:30am protesting disturbance by the outsiders and demanded their own safety. The students, later, took position in front of their hall as police took them out of the principal’s room.
At that time, BCL activists, led by institute President Zahid Hossain and General Secretary Tuhin, brought out a procession chanting slogans against the female students.
At one stage, they attacked the girl students breaking police barricade that left five injured.
Rajpara police OC Hafizur Rahman said, police obstructed the BCL men when they tried to attack the demonstrating students.
“The situation became normal when police drove them out of the campus. Additional police have been deployed on the campus to check further untoward incident,” he added.
BCL central General Secretary Jakir Hosain told The New Nation, we formed a probe committee on the IHT incident. Those BCL activists, who were involved with this will face disciplinary action.
When asked about the involvement of institute President and General Secretary, Jakir further said, Jahid and Tuhin will be fired if their link into this attack is found.
IHT Principal Sirajul Islam said , female students placed several demands to him.
“An emergency meeting of the academic council decided to close the institute for an indefinite period following an unwanted incident that took place in front of their hall,” he said.
