BCL men stab pro-JSD leader, activist at RU

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) cadres at Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday severely stabbed two pro-JSD Chhatra League leaders near the fine arts department.

Publicity secretary of the student body Mahmudul Hasan Mukut and activist Raju who is also a student of fine arts, were admitted to university medical centre with stab injuries in hands and heads. Mahmudul was later shifted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) as his condition deteriorated.

Sources said, a group of BCL activists led by Tipu, a third year student of fine arts beat up Raju at around 3 pm as a sequel to previous enmity.

In a bid to settle the matter, BCL and pro-JSD student leaders met at the same place in presence of two assistant proctors. But at one stage of the meeting, the BCL activists attacked the pro-JSD leaders and activists leaving Mukut and Raju critically injured.

Mukut alleged that the BCL cadres led by their law affaires secretary Arifuzzaman Rony, Dipayon Sarkar Dip of marketing department and activist Tipu all of a sudden attacked them with iron rods, hockey sticks and knives in presence of assistant proctors Jannatul Ferdous and Probhas Kumer Karmaker.

“We shall lodge a case with Motihar police station against the BCL cadres”, Mukut said.

RU proctor Chowdhury Zakaria said he will take legal stapes after investigating the matter.

Meanwhile, the leaders and activists of different left-leaning political organisations at RU yesterday demanded immediate withdrawal of restriction on students' activities on the campus.

They also demanded a congenial atmosphere on campus to revive Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU), ineffective for the last 19 years.

They criticised the university authorities for imposing indefinite restriction on rallies, processions and political activities of the student bodies on the campus.

RU imposed the restrictions on April 28 for an indefinite period following the bloody clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) that left Shibir secretary Sharifuzzaman Nomani killed on March 13.

The leaders alleged that the university authorities do not take any action against the BCL men committing crimes including extortion on the campus.

They said, Shibir is continuing their political activities at RU in the name of religious programmes under the nose of the university authorities.

Leaders and activists of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Jasod Chhatra League, Chhatra Union and Chhatra Moitree yesterday raised the aforesaid demands at a protest meeting.