Truck kills RU student on campus
Students burst into protests, urge VC to ensure safety
A Rajshahi University student was crushed to death and another injured under the wheels of a construction truck on the campus last night.
The incident occurred near the university's Habibur Rahman Hall around 8:45pm, when the two students were passing by on a motorcycle.
Mahmud Habib Himel, the deceased, was a fourth-year student of graphic design, crafts and history of the university's arts department, said Prof Pradip Kumar Pandey, RU's public relations officer.
Himel, hailing from Natore, was also the general secretary of the RU Drama Association.
The authorities had to struggle to recover his body as angry, protesting students were surrounding it.
Anwar Ali, officer-in-charge of Motihar Police Station, said police were able to recover the body at 10:00pm, an hour and 15 minutes after the incident, and sent it to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital for autopsy.
The injured, Rimel, a fourth-year student of ceramics and sculpture department, was taken to RMCH for treatment by protesting students.
The truck, bound for a nearby construction site, hit the motorcycle and then crushed Himel's head, said witnesses, RU teachers and police.
As the news spread, several hundred students from different halls took to the streets, demonstrating against the authorities' apathy towards ensuring students' security during development activities.
The PRO said the incident would be properly investigated and the culprits brought to justice, adding that RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar urged everyone to remain calm.
However, agitating students torched some five trucks and makeshift rooms at the construction site and did not let the authorities touch Himel's body.
When the university's proctor went to the spot to control the situation, they chased him away.
At 9:30pm, the students went to the VC's residence, held a demonstration and smashed his car.
Minutes later, the demonstrators barricaded the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway at the campus's Kajla gate and demanded proper investigation and punishment to the driver of the truck that killed Himel.
RU VC Golam Sabbir Sattar expressed his sorrow and said it was an unfortunate incident.
"All the fair demands of the students will be accepted. We will do whatever is necessary to provide justice for the killed student."
The demonstrators also demanded compensation and ensuring safety for students on campus.