4 journalists among 10 injured in alleged JCD attack at RU

A two-member committee had been formed to investigate the incident. The committee is headed by ABM Ejazul Kabir Ruel and Manzurul Alam Riyad, both vice-presidents of the Chhatra Dal central committee

At least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in an alleged attack by a group of Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activists at Rajshahi University on Sunday night.

The incident took place around 8:30pm in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall on the university campus.

The injured journalists are Jahidul Islam, Rajshahi University correspondent for Agamir Shomoy; Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star; Arifuzzaman Qurban of bdnews24.com; and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.

They were initially taken to the university medical centre for treatment. At around 10pm, they were referred to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

According to eyewitnesses and journalists present at the scene, JCD leaders and activists arrived in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall in a procession from the university’s Transport Market around 8pm. They allegedly went there for looking Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall Union General Secretary Ariful Islam. Some of them were seen carrying various locally made weapons, including machetes, cleavers, hockey sticks, metal pipes and baseball bats.

When university Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman reached the scene, the Chhatra Dal leaders and activists hid the weapons, according to eyewitnesses.

Later, when Samakal and Ajker Patrika correspondents approached to record video after seeing the weapons again, the Samakal correspondent was allegedly beaten with a stick and an attempt was made to snatch the Ajker Patrika correspondent’s mobile phone. The bdnews24.com correspondent was also allegedly attacked. The proctor later took the journalists inside the hall and closed the gate.

When other journalists arrived after hearing about the attack, Mridul and Zahidul were allegedly assaulted. Zahidul sustained an injury to his head. The attackers also allegedly threatened journalists who came forward to protect their colleagues.

According to eyewitnesses, those allegedly involved in the attack included RU Chhatra Dal Vice-President Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam, Vice-President Shariful Islam and Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam. They said at least 10 Chhatra Dal leaders and activists took part in the attack.

RU Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi said he had informed the organisation’s central leadership about the incident and that action would be taken against those responsible. RU Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman said the university authorities had failed to bring the situation under control, alleging that police personnel had left the scene after being called.

Reason behind the scene

The incident reportedly stemmed from a Facebook dispute between RU Chhatra Dal Vice-President Ahsan Habib and assistant cultural secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU) Rakibul Islam over a post concerning RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar.

Habib alleged that Rakibul used abusive language about his mother and sister in a comment on the post. Rakibul, however, claimed that Habib had threatened to assault him and asked about his whereabouts. Both later made posts on social media presenting their respective accounts of the dispute.

Rakibul stayed in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall from 10am to 5pm on Saturday. Later, Habib went there with several Chhatra Dal activists, some of whom were allegedly carrying baseball bats. They announced that they would remain there until 10pm.

Later, hall unit General Secretary Ariful Islam criticised Chhatra Dal in a Facebook post, accusing its members of carrying locally made weapons and being involved in violence on campus.

Eyewitnesses alleged that Chhatra Dal activists returned to the hall area with weapons on Sunday night before the attack on journalists.

Chhatra Dal forms probe committee

Chhatra Dal President Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said in a statement that proper action will be taken against them quickly. A two-member committee had been formed to investigate the incident.

The committee is headed by ABM Ejazul Kabir Ruel and Manzurul Alam Riyad, both vice-presidents of the Chhatra Dal central committee.

The statement said the committee had been directed to conduct a proper investigation and submit a written report to the central committee within 24 hours.