20 bullet-hit among 100 injured

Our RU Correspondent :The Rajshahi University (RU) campus on Sunday turned into a battleground when some armed activists of Bangladesh Chattra League (BCL) attacked the agitating students, who were observing sit-in in front of the administration building, demanding cancellation of fee hike and continuation of evening master’s programme. The police personnel, who were on the campus also charged batons and fired rubber bullets on the students causing injuries to at least 100 students of them 20 were bullet hit, eye witnesses said.Proloy Sisim, Assistant Commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police told The New Nation that police went into action to bring order to the situation.Apprehending that the situation may turn worse the RU authorities suspended the varsity’s academic activities. The students were also asked to vacate their dormitories by 8 am today (Monday). Meanwhile, a five member probe committee headed by Professor Khalequzzaman was formed. The other members of the committee are M. Tajul Huq, registrar, Professor Nazrul Islam, Professor Shamsul Alam and Professor Ibrahim Hossain.The decision was taken at an emergency meeting of the syndicate in the afternoon of Sunday.The incident erupted at about 12am when activists of pro- government BCL allegedly joined with the law enforcers to chase the students who were demonstrating on the campus, witnesses said.Earlier, miscreants blasted crude bombs at different places on the campus on Saturday night and also on Sunday morning. There was however, no report of any casualty in the incidents of blasts. The situation turned violent at around 2:30pm when BCL supporters clashed with agitating students. Of those injured about 20 were bullet hit, some of whom were sent to different hospitals for treatment. Several injured people were undergoing treatment at university medical centre and Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH). The situation became relatively calm after 2:30pm.The students have been observing strikes since Thursday disrupting all academic and administrative work although the RU authorities postponed their decision to hike fee on Saturday in the face of agitation. The authorities however declared to continue the evening master’s programmes introduced last month at seven departments of the social science faculty creating resentment among the general student.Students in the morning marched to the campus from different halls and adjoining areas in processions and took position in front of all academic buildings locking gates to observe the strike. They also kept the proctor and some other teachers confined inside their offices for two hours. The bullet hit students are: Parag, Rabiul, Mousum, Ashiq, Abdur Rashid, Abdul Latif, Saju, Ashiqur Rahman, Zahir Raihan, Sohel Rana, Abu Sufian, Rubel Parvez, Anwar, Nazrul, Hamidul, Rana, Rakhi.The journalists who were injured in the incident are: Gulbar Ali ( Natun Prabyat), Bulbul Ahmed Fahim (Manabkantha), Golam Rasul Ronny ( INB News portal), Jahirul Islam (ABnews), Zakir Hossain (Sheershanews), Golam Rabbani (Masranga TV), Rummy (Sonardesh), Jewell (Jai Jai Din Photo journalist) , Rabiul Islam ( The New Nation). Earlier, RU Vice Chancellor Professor Muhammad Mizanuddin told the media that a chaotic situation had been created on the campus in the name of movement to confuse the general students.