Collected Students
protesting for quota reform at Jahangirnagar University (JU) have been attacked
by leaders of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) university branch. General
students have made allegations that after the Chhatra League, the police also
launched attacks on the students. The attack reportedly occurred at around 1:50
AM on Monday (July 16). Over a hundred leaders and activists of the Chhatra
League took part in the attack, according to the allegations made by the
students. At the time of the attack, the students sought refuge inside the
Vice-Chancellor's residence.
Journalists,
including four reporters, and over a hundred students were injured in the
attack.
The
injured journalists are Mehedi Mamun of Bonik Barta, Abdur Rahman Khan Sarjil
of Daily Bangla, Jubayer Ahmed of Ekushey TV Online, and Wajahatul Islam of
Daily Jonokantho. The protesting students said that most attackers wore helmets
and carried sticks. They also observed two petrol bombs being thrown by them.
The students sought refuge inside the Vice-Chancellor's residence to escape the
attack. During this time, the Chhatra League leaders threw bricks targeting
them. Additionally, they initiated several cocktail explosions.
Later,
after more than two thousand students came out of the halls, leaders of the
university branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra League retreated. However, the
police targeted the general students with bullets and tear gas. Four
journalists and six students were injured in the police firing. According to
the students allegations, the Chhatra League attacked them in the presence of
the Vice-Chancellor, and the police fired bullets at them.
Earlier
in the evening, around six o'clock, the protesting students marched out of the
university's central library. They circled various roads within the university
premises and reached in front of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall,
where the Bangladesh Chhatra League unexpectedly attacked them.
In
this incident, over fifty people, including university teachers, journalists,
and female students, were injured. In protest against the attack, the
protesting students gathered at the Shahid Minar on the university campus.
Later, they surrounded the Vice-Chancellor's residence with another procession.
