Daily Star RU correspondent among 4 journalists injured in Chhatra Dal attack

At least 10 people, including four student journalists, were injured Sunday night in an attack by Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal men on Rajshahi University campus.

The attack took place around 8:30pm in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, according to witnesses and journalists at the scene.

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The injured journalists are Nur Ahsan Mridul, RU correspondent of The Daily Star and president of Rajshahi University Reporters Unity; Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy; Arifuzzaman Korban of bdnews24.com; and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal. They were taken to the university medical centre and later moved to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Witnesses said a group of Chhatra Dal leaders and activists marched from the Transport Market area to the hall around 8:00pm, looking for hall union General Secretary Ariful Islam. Several carried machetes, hockey sticks, pipes and bats.

They hid the weapons when Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman arrived, witnesses said. When the weapons were spotted later, the Samakal correspondent and Dwin Islam of Ajker Patrika moved in to record videos. The Samakal reporter was beaten with a stick, and an attempt was made to snatch Dwin's phone. The bdnews24.com correspondent was also assaulted.

The proctor took the journalists inside the hall and shut the entrance. As other reporters rushed to the site, Mridul and Zahidul were beaten, witnesses said. Zahidul suffered a head injury. Journalists who tried to protect their colleagues were threatened.

Witnesses named RU Chhatra Dal vice-presidents Ahsan Habib and Shariful Islam, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam and Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam among at least 10 leaders and activists involved.

RU Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi said he had informed the central leadership. "Action will be taken against them quickly," he said.

Chhatra Dal’s central General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said, "I have just learnt about the incident. I am trying to get the details. We will take action against those responsible."

The proctor said the university authorities had failed to bring the situation under control.

RU Pro-VC Prof Abdul Alim said the authorities were looking into the incident. "We will not tolerate any criminal activities on campus. Those involved will be brought under the law," he said.

The National Citizen Party condemned the attack and demanded the arrest and punishment of those responsible. In a statement, it called for measures to ensure the safety of students and journalists and protect freedom of expression.

The incident followed a Facebook dispute between Ahsan Habib and Rakibul Islam, assistant cultural secretary of Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu), over a post about Rucsu General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar.

Habib alleged that Rakibul used abusive language about his mother and sister in a comment. Rakibul claimed Habib threatened to assault him. Both posted their accounts on social media.

On Saturday, Rakibul stayed in front of the hall from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Habib later arrived with several Chhatra Dal leaders and activists, some carrying bats, and announced they would stay until 10:00pm.

Ariful later accused Chhatra Dal members in a Facebook post of carrying locally made weapons and engaging in violence on campus. Witnesses alleged the group returned to the hall last night with weapons before attacking the journalists.