2 RU students arrested, probe committee formed over campus ‘mob violence’

Police have arrested two Rajshahi University students who were earlier assaulted by leaders of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (Rucsu) and activists of Chhatra Shibir in connection with a previously filed case over alleged criminal activities linked to the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.

The university has also formed a five-member committee to investigate the series of incidents that led to the clashes.

The arrests and the inquiry come after several active student organisations condemned assaults inside the university’s proctor’s office and central library as “mob violence” and demanded action against those responsible.

The arrested students are Md Anas and Mahmudul Hasan, both from the university’s 2017-18 History department cohort.

Confirming the matter this morning (28 July), Motihar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Golam Kabir said that the two students had been arrested in connection with an earlier case involving alleged Chhatra League activities.

He said both are undergoing medical treatment and are expected to be produced before a court before being sent to jail.

The incident began after Mohsin Alam, a student of the Sanskrit department, was accused of harassing a female classmate after she rejected his romantic proposal.

Following a written complaint submitted to Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman on Sunday (26 July), the proctor called a meeting with both parties.

Anas, Mahmudul and another student, Hasib, attended in support of Mohsin. An altercation reportedly broke out after they denied the allegations.

During another meeting at the proctor’s office yesterday, several student leaders, including Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar, accused Anas of being an activist of the banned Chhatra League, showing photographs on a mobile phone that allegedly linked him to the organisation before assaulting him.

Although the proctorial body temporarily resolved the dispute and asked everyone to leave, university authorities said Anas, Hasib and Mahmudul later attacked Ammar and Rucsu Information and Research Secretary BM Nazmus Sakib near the Rucsu building, leaving Sakib injured.

The three students later gathered near the central library reading room, where another confrontation with Rucsu and Chhatra Shibir activists escalated into brick-pelting.

They took shelter inside the reading room, where, according to witnesses, Rucsu and Shibir activists entered and assaulted them.

Several students who tried to intervene were also allegedly attacked before teachers, the proctorial body and police brought the situation under control.

After the incident, Rucsu and Shibir activists demonstrated in front of the administration building demanding action against alleged Chhatra League activists, while Chhatra Dal brought out a separate protest rally condemning the attack inside the library.

In a statement issued on Sunday night, the Democratic Student Alliance described the assaults in the proctor’s office and central library as “mob violence”, saying publicly beating individuals instead of following legal procedures had disrupted the academic environment.

The alliance called for action against both alleged Chhatra League activists and those involved in the assaults.

The university administration today formed a five-member investigation committee headed by Professor Md Rezaul Karim of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The committee has been asked to establish the facts surrounding the incident and submit recommendations for disciplinary action as soon as possible.