BCL men attack JCD activists, journos at DU
Ruling party student wing BCL activists allegedly attacked leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal at Dhaka University’s TSC area on Monday.
The leaders of BNP's student wing JCD alleged that the Bangladesh Chhatra League men led by its Dhaka University president Sanjit Chandra Das attacked them in front of Shoparjito Shadhinota premises around 12:30pm, leaving some 30 leaders and activists of JCD injured.
The attackers also beat up journalists and snatched away a mobile phone from one of them. Later, Sanjit and DU unit secretary Saddam Hossain went to Dhaka University Journalists’ Association and apologised for the attack on journalists.
According to the witnesses and JCD men, the newly-elected general secretary of central JCD Iqbal Hossain Shaymal, along with some other activists, went to Madhur Canteen in the morning. In face of tensions there, Iqbal left the canteen and reached Hakim Chattar on the campus in the afternoon.
But the BCL DU unit president Sanjit, who was already there, asked JCD men to leave the campus immediately.
As the JCD leader Iqbal left the campus, around 50-60 BCL activists, wielding rods and sticks, attacked remaining JCD men at Shoparjito Shadhinota premises.
According to witnesses, Masterda Surya Sen Hall union’s vice president Mariam Jaman Khan, Kobi Jashim Uddin Hall’s general secretary Imam Hasan, Jagannath Hall’s general secretary Kajal Sarker, Masterda Surya Sen Hall unit BCL’s vice president Raisul Islam, Sir AF Rahman Hall’s vice president Hossain Mahmud Appel and Kobi Jasim Uddin Hall’s BCL leader Mohsin Alam Talukdar led the attack. All of them are known as Sanjit’s men.
JCD secretary Iqbal alleged that BCL men, led by Sanjit, carried out the attack without any provocation.
“BCL men wielding rods and sticks launched the attack on JCD leaders and activists without any provocation. Around 30-40 of JCD activists are injured and 7-8 are in critical condition. BCL DU unit president ordered and led the attack. They even snatched mobile phones and moneybags of our men.”
Among the injured are JCD DU unit joint secretary Shah Newaz, JCD’s AGS candidate at DUCSU election Khorshed Alam Sohel, Dr. Mohammad Shahidullah Hall’s Mahbubul Alam Shahin, Fazlul Haque Muslim Hall’s Karzon Masum, SM Jakiul Islam Shahin and Firoz Alam, said Iqbal.
Journalists were also beaten up by BCL men during the attack. University correspondent of Dainik Jai Jai Din Anisur Rahman and Business Bangladesh’s Nurul Afsar came under attack as they were on the scene covering the incident. Anisur is being treated at the university medical center.
Denying allegations of leading the attack, Sanjit claimed he was at the university library during the incident and BCL leadership did not give any order to launch the attack.
He, however, said some over enthusiastic leaders and activists carried out the attack and later apologised for that.
Secretary Saddam also sought apology for the attack on journalists.
Asked about the incident, DU proctor AKM Golam Rabbani said, “Physical assault on anyone is unacceptable. We will definitely take proper measures if we get any written complaint.”