Rajshahi:At least four journalists sustained serious injuries in an alleged attack by leaders and activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the ruling BNP party, at Rajshahi University on Sunday night.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall. The journalists injured in the attack were identified as Arifuzzaman Korban, Zahidul Islam, Noor Ahsan Mridul, and Mainul Islam Raju, representing bdnews24.com, Agamir Shomoy, The Daily Star, and Samakal, respectively. Alongside them, approximately 10 other journalists and several students were also hurt and were treated at the university's medical center.
Witnesses reported that JCD leaders and activists, allegedly carrying weapons such as machetes, cleavers, hockey sticks, pipes, and baseball bats, arrived at the hall's gate from the university's Transport Market with the purported intention of attacking the hall parliament's General Secretary, Ariful Islam. When the university proctor arrived, the activists allegedly concealed their weapons and subsequently attacked journalists who attempted to document the situation.
Journalists, including a Samakal correspondent, were reportedly beaten with sticks in the proctor's presence, and there was an attempt to seize a mobile phone from an Ajker Patrika correspondent. The bdnews24.com journalist was also allegedly assaulted. The proctor managed to take the journalists inside the hall and secure them by locking the door.
The altercation reportedly originated from a disagreement over comments made by JCD leader Ahsan Habib on social media about RUCSU GS Salahuddin Ammar. Habib accused Rakibul of making offensive comments about his family, while Rakibul claimed Habib had threatened him. Both parties took to social media to voice their sides of the dispute.
University Proctor Mahbubur Rahman admitted their inability to manage the situation, stating they had called the police, who also retreated in fear. Meanwhile, Rajshahi University unit JCD President Sultan Ahmed Rahi mentioned that the central committee had been informed and actions would be taken against those responsible.