Attack on human chain of victims' families

A local Awami League (AL) leader and a journalist were injured as criminals yesterday attacked a human chain programme that was organised demanding arrest and punishment of the perpetrators of April 16 murder of two students of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU).

The injured, Mirza Ashfaque, joint secretary of Dinajpur district unit of AL, and Faruk Hossain, district correspondent of private television channel Ntv, were admitted to Dinajpur General Hospital.

The attackers also assaulted Bipul Sarker Sunny, Dinajpur correspondent of daily Samokal, and snatched away cameras from a few TV photographers there.

HSTU students Md Zakaria and Mahmudul Hasan Milton were stabbed to death during a factional clash of HSTU unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League on the campus on April 16 night.

Demanding arrest of the killers, the family members of Zakaria and Milton organised a programme including human chain at Nimtola in Dinajpur town yesterday.

Dinajpur AL leader Mirza Ashfaque was present there to take part in the human chain programme.

Journalists of different print and electronic media went there to cover the event.

As people were preparing to form the human chain, a group equipped with iron rods and wooden sticks attacked them, foiling the programme.

Injured by the attackers, Mirza Ashfaque and Faruk Hossain were taken to Dinajpur General Hospital.

Ashfaque received head injuries while Faruk was hit by an iron rod on the back, doctors said.

During the chaos, the criminals intruded into a club of Dinajpur journalists, said Wahedul Alam Artist, president of Dunajpur Journalists Union.

Mirza Ashfaque claimed that Abu Ibne Razzab, president of district unit Swechchhasebak League, led the attack as he was made top accused in two cases filed with a Dinajpur court. 

Razzab, however, dismissed the allegation.

Ntv Correspondent Faruk Hossain said a police team present near the spot did nothing to prevent the attackers.

ATM Khalequzzaman, OC of Dinajpur Sadar Police Station, said he heard that a human chain programme was foiled yesterday.

Asked about the role of the police team present there, the OC said he is looking into the allegation.