BCL men beat up CU student for 'spreading rumours'

Several activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Chittagong University (CU) yesterday beat up a student of the university for allegedly spreading rumours on social media during the recent quota reform and safe road movements.

The injured student is Shahedul Islam, a fourth-year student of Education and Research Institute at CU.

Shahedul claimed that around 10 to 12 BCL men took him to a corner of a tea stall in front of the arts and humanities faculty building around 12:10pm when he went there to have some snacks.

“They started beating me asking why I took part in the protests for safe roads and quota reformation,” he claimed.

He said some journalists rescued him and sent him to the university medical centre.

Abu Tayub, chief medical officer at the centre, said Shahedul was referred to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as he suffered head injuries. He was later released from the hospital.

Contacted, Mansur Alam, a leader of the BCL group involved in the beating, said Shahedul spread rumours and posted provocative posts from his Facebook account to confuse students during the recent demonstrations.

“That's why our activists beat him,” he said, adding that Shahedul was also involved in Shibir politics.

When asked, Shahedul admitted his involvement with the student protests, but said he did not spread any rumours on social media nor was he involved in Shibir politics.

CU Assistant Proctor Litan Mitra said they were looking into the matter.