Published on 01:02 PM, January 23, 2018

24 hurt as BCL men attack DU students

DU forms 5-member probe body

At least 24 students of Dhaka University are injured as Bangladesh Chhatra League activists swooped on them during their demonstration on the campus on January 23, 2018. Photo: Star/ Amran Hossain

At least 24 students of Dhaka University were injured as Bangladesh Chhatra League men swooped on them during their demonstration on the campus this afternoon.

The students have been demonstrating keeping the university Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman confined at his office since 12noon to press home their demands including punishment of BCL men, who harassed some female students earlier.

At one stage of their agitation, around 300 to 400 BCL men went to the VC office around 4:00pm and asked them to leave the spot, our DU correspondent reports from the spot.

An injured student is lying on the ground after he came under attack by BCL men on January 23, 2018.Photo: Prabir Das

As the students did not comply with their instruction, the BCL men reportedly swooped on them, leaving at least 24 students injured, witnesses and campus sources said.

Three of them, including one with head injury, were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital while others received primary treatment, Sanaul Hoque Sarker, duty doctor of the hospital, told The Daily Star.

The injured students are being treated at DMCH. Photo: Shaheen Mollah

Bangladesh Students’ Union General Secretary Liton Nandi, who was also admitted to DMCH, claimed that over 50 students were injured in the BCL assault.

The agitating students have been demonstrating on the campus for a week demanding withdrawal of DU affiliation with seven colleges, punishment of BCL men, who allegedly harassed some agitating female students on January 15 and withdrawal of a case filed against unknown DU students.

Earlier in the day, the students formed a human chain in front of Aparajeyo Bangla and brought out a procession on the campus to press home their demands.

DU forms 5-member probe body

Meanwhile, Dhaka University authorities in a statement tonight said they have formed a five-member committee led by DU Treasurer Professor Dr Md Kamal Uddin to investigate the incident on the campus and submit a report in this regard as soon as possible.