RU students block highway protesting attack on fellows

Students of Rajshahi University (RU) have blocked the Rajshahi–Natore highway in protest against an attack on three of their peers by some assailants.

The demonstration began around 12.00pm on Thursday (November 20) when students of the Finance Department took position at the Kazla Gate area. Students from other departments later joined, bringing all vehicular movement on the highway paralyzed.

Earlier around 11.00pm on Wednesday, Finance Department students Al Farabi and Tahmid Ahmed (Bokshi), along with Theatre Department student Minhaj, were having dinner at a hotel near Kazla Gate, when a group of attackers wearing musk and helmet, riding 10–15 motorcycles, assaulted them. Minhaj was struck with a sharp weapon, while Farabi and Tahmid were forcibly taken away and beaten.

Around 11:45pm, the attackers left Farabi near the Binodpur Betar Math area and Tahmid in front of Habibur Rahman Hall. Both sustained severe injuries and are currently undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

RU student Asifur Rahman said the protest began around 11.00am, resulting in a complete shutdown of traffic on the highway.

Abdul Malek, officer-in-charge (OC) of Motihar Police Station, said, “No case has been filed yet, but the injured students have identified several individuals, and the process of filing a case is underway.”