Duta concerned over recent violence at dorms

Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) yesterday expressed deep concern over the recent incidents of violence at the university dormitories centring seat allotment.

“We noticed students, teachers and journalists were harassed by some unruly students recently,” Duta said in a press release signed by its President Prof Dr ASM Maksud Kamal and General Secretary Prof Dr Md Rahamat Ullah.

Besides, a tense situation is prevailing at the residential halls, it also said urging the concerned authorities to ensure congenial atmosphere on the campus.

On Tuesday, some Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) activists went on a rampage for around four hours at Bijoy Ekattor Hall and tried to force residents to accommodate their men who had been living in a common room. They also chased away resident teachers, vandalised the hall provost's office and beat up a journalist.

On Thursday, BCL leaders at Ruqayyah Hall also tried to occupy some rooms ousting the residents.

Demanding exemplary punishment for the BCL men over their rampage and beating up a campus correspondent of UNB, some 300 students and teachers on Thursday held a demonstration on the campus.

Dhaka University Journalists' Association (Duja) also protested the attack and demanded that the BCL central committee dissolve their Bijoy Ekattor Hall unit.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra Union yesterday demanded merit-based allocation of seats in the halls.

Chhatra Union DU chapter president Tuhin Kanti Das and general secretary Foyz Ullah in a statement demanded that the university authorities take immediate steps against the BCL room grabbers and attackers.

Jagannath University Journalists' Association also sought justice over the assault on the university reporter.

Meanwhile, protesting the movement of some Home Economics College students, Federation of Bangladesh University Teacher's Association in a statement said, “A vested quarter is trying to create instability in the educational institutions through blocking the roads.”

“The educational environment and law and order are deteriorating because of these unruly activities.”