Staff Reporter :
Hundreds of students of Rajshahi University (RU) blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway since Saturday morning to afternoon in protest against the beaten of a student of the university by the activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Sources said, the BCL activists beaten up Sohrab Mia, a third-year student of Finance Department of the university on Friday midnight. He was fatally injured in his head and left hand. His head fractured deeply and he received 15 stitches to his head in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).
Hundreds of the protesting students took to the streets and blocked the highway in front of the university’s main gate since the morning. They demanded arrest and punishment of the accused.
The protesters also demanded removal of the provost of the university’s Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall where Sohrab mia has been attacked.
They also chanted slogans asking the university authorities to take responsibility of treatment of the victim and cancellation of accused studentship from the university.
Submitting three-point demands to the university authorities, the protesters have halted their protest till today (Sunday).
The protesting students, on Saturday afternoon, announced that they would resume their protest if their demands are not fulfilled by 10:00am Sunday.
The three-point demand are: legal actions against and expulsion of Asif, Nahid, and all others involved in the assault of their fellow student; resignation of Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall provost, and university authorities to bear medical expenses of assaulted student Sohrab Mia.
Witnesses said, Asif Luck of Islamic Studies Department and Humayun Kabir Nahid of Bangla Department took Sohrab to room No. 254 of the hall around 12:30am and beat him seriously.
After beating him for about one hour, other students recovered Sohrab and took him to the university medical centre. Then the doctors referred him to RMCH.
Both Nahid and Asif are also the residents of Shaheed Shamsuzzoha Hall. They are also well-known as followers of Golam Kibria, BCL president of the university unit.
Sources said, the BCL activists have started the offensive three days ago accusing Sohrab that he had stolen Asif’s laptop. Asif had slapped him three days ago claiming that he has stolen the laptop.
After the incident, Asif and Nahid on Friday night took him along with some of his friends to the dormitory. They locked the room and started beating continuously with an iron rod and a piece of wood.
Sohrab said to journalists in hospital bed, “They beat me indiscriminately all over the body. In a stage bleeding started from my head, I cried loudly and requested them not to beat me. Then they threatened to kill me if I shout.”
Some of Sohrab’s friends, who were also taken inside the room, are in traumatized witnessing the unmerciful torture but did not dare to say anything.
When contacted, BCL President Golam Kibria said that his organization has formed a four members committee to probe the incident.
“The committee has been asked to submit their investigation report within 24 hours,” he said.
Besides, RU Assistant Proctor Humayun Kabir said the university authorities were looking into the matter closely.
