RU teachers, student bodies condemn Shibir attack on VC
Punishment demanded: Probe body to be formed
Teachers and different student organisations of Rajshahi University yesterday condemned the assault on RU acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat by activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir on the campus on Friday.
They demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the persons responsible for the henous attack on the acting VC when he went to persuade Shibir activists to withdraw a road barricade on the campus.
The acting VC yesterday said the university authorities would form a probe committee and take action against the persons responsible for Friday's incident.
Protesting the incident, Rajshahi University Teachers Association (Ruta) President Prof Zillur Rahman said, “The incident is very shameful.
“It is a rare incident that students assaulted their teacher as he (VC) requested them not to stage demonstration.
“I strongly protest the attack on RU acting VC by some unruly students”, he told The Daily Star.
Prof Zillur also demanded a neutral investigation into the incident and exemplary punishment of the culprits.
“If attackers are not punished then there will be more such incident on the campus”, he said.
Rajshhai University Student Advisor Prof Faridul Islam Pintu said, “The incident is very regrettable and we (teachers community) express our deep concern”.
“We cannot believe that students physically assaulted the VC. It is very shameful for us”, he said.
Prof Faridul Islam demanded investigation and punishment of the unruly students who assaulted the acting VC.
Former RU Syndicate member Prof Fayekuzzman termed the incident 'inhuman' .
The incident is not acceptable in an institution like Rajshahi University. “It is an attack on teachers community”, he said.
“We will face the same situation if the culprits are not punished,” he said.
Noted dramatist Prof Moloy Kumar Bhoumik also termed the assault an attack on the teachers community.
He blamed the former BNP-Jamaat administration and said they are responsible for the incident as they always patronised Shibir cadres on the campus.
The present caretaker government also patronises Jamaat-Shibir, he alleged. “The incident probes that there is no security for teachers and students on the campus”, he said.
He said the university proctor and the assistant proctor failed to control the situation and arrange a settlement between Shibir and local businessman on Thursday.
He also demanded a neutral investigation and punishment of the persons responsible.
RU Proctor Prof Enamul Haque, who was also assaulted by Shibir cadres on Friday, said, “I can only seek such steps by the university administration and the government so that such incidents do not take place any more”.
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Bangladesh Chhatra
Union (BCU) and pro JSD Chhatra League (JCL) units at RU in separate statements also strongly protested Friday's incident and demanded punishment of the culprits.
They also urged general students to resist unruly activities by Shibir activists on all educational institutions.
On Friday, Shibir cadres assaulted Prof Keramat and some other teachers as they tried to persuade Shibir activists to lift the road barricades on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway across RU campus.
Several hundred stick-wielding Shibir men, led by its RU unit president Delwar Hossain Saidee and secretary Abdullah al-Nomani, chased the teachers, threw stones at them and hurled abuses at the proctor alleging that the university administration failed to ensure their security on the campus.
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