RU journalist attack: No arrests, police yet to speak to victims

A day after a case was filed over the attack on journalists at Rajshahi University (RU), police have made no visible progress in the investigation or arrests and are yet to speak to any of the victims.

The victims said police have not contacted them despite video footage of the attack being available, while those allegedly involved have yet to be identified by law enforcers.

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At least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured when Chhatra Dal leaders and activists allegedly attacked journalists and students with locally made weapons in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall around on Sunday night.

The injured journalists are The Daily Star's RU correspondent Nur Ahsan Mridul, who is also president of Rajshahi University Reporters Unity; Zahidul Islam of Agamir Shomoy; Arifujjaman Korban of bdnews24.com; and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.

Among those identified in connection with the attack are Ahsan Habib, a student of the Law Department and a vice-president of the university unit Chhatra Dal; Hasibul Islam Hasib, a student of the History Department and joint general secretary of the unit; and Bishal Chakrabarty, a student of the Economics Department who later dropped out.

Others allegedly involved include Shahriar Alam Othi, a student of the Music Department and assistant office secretary of the organisation; Shariful Islam, a student of the Anthropology Department and vice-president; Takbir Hasan Emon, a student of the Institute of Business Administration and vice-president; and Syed Sajharul Islam, a student of the Management Department and assistant general secretary.

The case was filed by the administration of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall with Motihar Police Station. Monir Hossain, deputy registrar of the hall, is the complainant.

However, Monir said he had no knowledge of the details of the case and was made to sign the complaint by force.

“On October 5, Provost Mahbubur Rahman asked Sattar bhai (assistant registrar) and me to go to the police station. He said we would not have to do anything, just go to Motihar Police Station and sign,” he said.

“I was made to do it by force. I know nothing about the case. When I went there to sign, I saw that the accused had been listed as unidentified,” he added.

Asked why unidentified persons were named as accused despite video footage of the incident, Monir said, the hall provost told him that he was under pressure from higher authorities.

Zahidul Islam, RU correspondent of Agamir Shomoy, who sustained a head injury in the attack, questioned the manner in which the case was filed.

“It seems to me that the administration filed the case just to fulfil a formality. No one from the police administration has contacted or met us so far,” he said.

“Everything is as clear as daylight. Yet I still do not understand why the case was filed against unidentified people. If the attackers are not brought to justice, it will further expose how poor the country's law and order situation has become,” he added.

Another victim, Arifujjaman Korban, RU correspondent of bdnews24.com, said, “Although the hall administration filed a case against unidentified persons, those who beat us that day are regularly posting on Facebook. They show no remorse. Instead, they are labelling us as Shibir members and ‘gupto'.”

“Some of them have even been expelled from Chhatra Dal over their involvement in the incident. Yet the administration remains blind to the matter. There is no guarantee that they will not attack us again. This means that after being assaulted once, we are now spending our days fearing that we may be attacked again,” he added.

Contacted, Motihar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Arjun Islam said he had been outside Rajshahi since October 2 and returned to the city yesterday.

“I don't know anything about the investigation yet. I have instructed the investigating officer to speak to the victims. I will look into whether he has done so,” he said.

Attempts to reach investigating officer Mostak Ahmed for comments were unsuccessful.