RU central library attacked, Students beaten by RUCSU and Shibir leaders

Several clashes have erupted between leaders of Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) and a group of students at Rajshahi University (RU) on Monday. Allegations have been raised that RUCSU and Islami Chhatra Shibir leaders and activists entered the central library reading room and beat three students. However, the university unit of Shibir has denied any involvement in the attack.

Clashes took place in phases from noon to evening at the Proctor's Office, RUCSU building and the central library. Later, Shibir leaders and activists staged a sit-in in front of the Vice-Chancellor's office demanding justice against the now-banned Chhatra League. The campus remained tense till the filing of this report.

Students said a female student of the Department of Sanskrit had alleged on Sunday that she was threatened by a senior student, Mohsin Alam, for rejecting his proposal. A meeting was held that night in the presence of Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman, where those accompanying the accused denied the allegations.

Another meeting was called on Monday afternoon, where RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar and other leaders accused Anas of being a Chhatra League activist. Anas was allegedly beaten at the Proctor's Office. The Proctor intervened and the situation was brought under control.

Later around 3pm, Anas, Hasib, Mahmudul and others went to the RUCSU building, where a scuffle broke out. RUCSU claimed its Information and Research Secretary B M Nazmus Sakib was injured in the attack.

Both sides later took positions in front of the central library. Eyewitnesses said an argument escalated into a heated situation, and the Proctor took some students into the reading room. According to the injured students and eyewitnesses, RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar, AGS Salman Sabbir, Debate and Literature Secretary Imran Laskar, Co-Information and Research Secretary Sifat Abu Saleh, Shibir unit secretary Mehedi Hasan, Publicity and Media Secretary Mehedi Sajib, Office Secretary Manazir Ahsan, Finance Secretary Shamim Patwari, university senate member and Shibir unit campus monitoring coordinator Fazle Rabbi Mohammad Fahim Reza, Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall Union GS Ariful Islam, Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall Union VP Ahsanullah Farhan, GS Ashik Sikdar, Nawab Abdul Latif Hall GS Nurul Islam Shaheed and student Ramzan Ali, along with several Shibir leaders, entered the reading room and beat Anas, Hasib and Mahmudul. Other students in the reading room who tried to intervene were also attacked, according to allegations.

The Proctorial body, police and students later brought the situation under control. The injured were sent to hospital. Mahmudul Hasan, who was seriously injured, was again attacked while being taken to hospital, eyewitnesses alleged.

Helal Uddin, a student of the Department of Physics from the 2017-18 session who was in the reading room, said, "We were studying. Suddenly a group entered the reading room and started accusing anyone they could of being Chhatra League. Even ordinary students were attacked. Even if someone is involved with Chhatra League, no one has the right to beat them. There are laws for justice."

Denying the allegations, Anas said he was beaten at the Proctor's Office after being labelled a Chhatra League activist, and was attacked again at the library. He claimed he is not a Chhatra League activist; while he has photos with friends involved in Chhatra League politics in the past, he was never associated with the organisation's banners or programmes.

University unit Shibir General Secretary Mehedi Hasan said, "No Shibir member was involved in this incident. We went there after hearing about the attack on RUCSU leaders." When asked about Shibir leaders being seen in the attack video, he declined to comment.

RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar said, "Chhatra League thugs attacked our leaders when they came to the RUCSU building. We demanded they be handed over to police. We went there after the attack on us."

University unit Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi said a personal dispute has been given a political colour. Condemning the attack at an academic institution like the central library, he demanded administrative action against those involved.

When asked about the overall situation, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Abdul Alim said, "The incident that took place throughout the day is highly condemnable. We are now in a meeting with police and the Proctorial body. A committee will be formed to investigate the matter quickly. All those involved will be tried under the university's laws."