University-College Students Clash
Ruet closed sine die
25 injured, college inside Ruet vandalised
Angry students of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) led an arson attack on a programme at Agrani School and College premises where lawmaker Fazle Hossain Badsha was present as chief guest. (Clockwise from top left) The podium and equipment of the school were set ablaze. Students wielding weapons before police. A sit-in protesting assault on journalists. Photo: STAR
Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) authorities suspended the classes for an indefinite period and directed its students to vacate the halls by 9:00am today. The VC in a meeting made the decision last evening following a day-long sequel of clashes between the students of Ruet and Agrani School and College (ASC), located inside the Ruet complex, that left at least 25 people including two photojournalists injured. Sources said, the clashes ensued when some Ruet students protested on seeing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) ASC unit president Hasan sitting on the Ruet Shaheed Minar wearing shoes around 1:00pm. Hasan got into an altercation with them and called upon his unit’s BCL activists, and slapped one of the protesting students. Following this, a group of Ruet students rushed to the spot and chased Hasan and his men, leaving him and the school unit’s BCL Secretary Bipu Ahmed injured. Following this, several hundred students of ASC along with locals counter chased the Ruet students with sticks and iron rods injuring at least four Ruet students. Later, several hundred Ruet students vandalised and set ablaze ASC’s school furniture including classroom chairs, tables and windows. On information, Rajshahi Fire service personnel brought the fire there under control around 2:00pm. Abdur Razzak, a fire service official, said valuables worth over Tk 1.7 lakh has been damaged during the fire at the school. Ruet students also dispersed the school’s sports award ceremony that day where Rajshahi-2 constituency parliament member Fazle Hossain Badsha was present as the chief guest. Ruet students also attacked photojournalist Abdullah Iqbal of Daily Juganttar and photojournalist Abus Samad of Daily Sun, also damaging his camera, while they were taking photographs of the clash in the presence of Motihar Police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Khayer and Boalia Zone Assistant Commissioner (AC) Muhammad Sharif. Later, several hundred students of the school along with locals with arms chased the Ruet students and threw brickbats at them, leaving at least 10 Ruet students injured. Protesting the attack on journalists, reporters and photographers of several dailies blocked Dhaka-Rajshahi highway for an hour and half from 2:30pm demanding punishment for the attackers and removal of the OC and AC present during the attack on journalist. Later, they withdraw the highway blockage after the assurance of Deputy Commissioner (Rajshahi-East) Murshed Alam Khan to look in to the matter immediately. The situation came under control around 4:50pm after deploying over five hundred police personnel along with high officials on the campus. Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital sources said eight Ruet students were admitted there with several injuries. Ruet VC Shirajul Karim Chowdhury said he will take immediate steps in this regard after investigation.
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