Vandalism ensues after raid against outsiders

Several rooms, including that for guests, the provost and house tutor's offices and six CCTV cameras in Dhaka University's (DU) Sir AF Rahman Hall were vandalised after the senior administrative officer with a police team conducted a drive around 1:00am yesterday to evict outsiders.

Two persons, Shahin and Shafiul, detained after admitting to be students of Government Titumir College and Mirpur Bangla College, were released after giving undertakings.

Criticising graduates still living there, Prof Aftab Uddin asked guests of students to leave and exited the main entrance with the detainees.

Witnesses said some students, a few covering their faces to hide identities, then switched off lights in the corridors and blocked a second access gate in the building before carrying out the vandalism, all the while shouting at the provost and police and telling them to leave.

Talking to The Daily Star, Prof Aftab accused some hall unit BCL leaders of carrying out the vandalism and provoking others, saying they were among the graduates still residing there.

Afterwards some students demonstrated in the hall demanding that the provost resigns, alleging that he has been "autocratic", misbehaving and castigating them, even insulting parents and mocking family backgrounds, over trivial issues since joining office last year.

Some of the house tutors, staff and officials corroborated the claims.

"My colleagues and students are talking against me because I am very strict when it comes to rules and regulations for the betterment of the hall students," said Prof Aftab.

DU unit BCL President none of BCL was involved in the vandalism and that they would assist the hall authorities on taking steps against the graduates.