Around 500 sued over clash between RU students, locals

A case has been filed against more than 500 unnamed people in connection with Saturday's clash between Rajshahi University (RU) students and local businessmen.

The registrar of the university, Abdus Salam, filed the case with Motihar Police Station on Sunday.

In another development, the rail communication between Rajshahi and Dhaka has been suspended after a group of Rajshahi University students set fire to logs on two separate railway tracks in the district on Sunday following Saturday's clash between students and locals.

An altercation with a student of the university over bus fare on Saturday led to a clash with local shopkeepers. The incident took place in the Binodpur Gate area of the university. 

As per local sources, the clash occurred following an altercation between a student, who returned to the campus from his home in Bogura, and bus employees over bus fares. The clash turned big immediately and left some 200 people injured. On information, police rushed to the spot and fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Later, students occupied the university premises while locals were outside the campus. 

Following the incident, agitated students locked up the university's administrative building on Sunday demanding justice. They alleged that the failure of university authorities is the reason why they were attacked. 

Meanwhile, a number of journalists while covering the happenings on Sunday morning were injured in an attack carried out by the protesting students.

University authorities condemn attack on students

The authorities of Rajshahi University, in a statement on Sunday, strongly condemned the attack on students, by local residents and some members of the police. They called for action against those involved in the attack.

The statement noted the university administration was shocked by the unpleasant incident of the attack on students in the Binodpur Gate area of the Rajshahi University campus on Saturday.

"Under the leadership of the vice-chancellor, the university administration is making all-out efforts to deal with the situation," the statement reads.

They agreed to bear all medical expenses including taking necessary measures to ensure proper treatment of the injured students. Also, the vice-chancellor promised to be considerate regarding the demands raised by the students.

The authorities said they are active and maintain round-the-clock communication with the police to ensure the safety of the students in their residences outside the campus. At the same time, the university authorities urged them to remain calm.

The clash and demonstration

Students made several attacks on local shops taking stands at the Binodpur gate of the university on Saturday night before the returned residential halls at the early hours of the next day. The Dhaka-bound Dhumketu Express train got stuck for hours during the clash that night as agitated students were on the rail line in the university portion. 

The aggrieved students staged a series of demonstrations inside and outside the campus throughout the second day of the clash. They started the movement by slamming the main gate of the university administration building at 10am. 

Moments later, a group of students staged a protest in front of the vice-chancellor's residence, while another group kept senior office-bearers of the university, including the vice-chancellor, hall provosts and administration officials and hundreds of teachers, blockaded for nearly two hours. Some also protested by setting fire to wood on the highway in front of the main gate of the university. 

Students lifted their blockade around 1.30pm on the day on assurance of authorities' steps.

Meanwhile, the condition of Rajshahi University-adjacent Binodpur Bazar was stagnant throughout Sunday. In the morning, local traders took positions on the street. No major clash, however, was reported there on the day. Police and BGB members were patrolling the area. 

The Rajshahi-Dhaka highway – from Talaimari to Chauddpai area – was kept closed for a long time.

"Police members including senior officers kept watch at the spot all night. When the students returned to the hall after 2am, the situation came under control. Since then, there have been no further attacks," Motihar Police Station Office-in-Charge Hafizur Rahman told The Business Standard. 

A heavy police force was deployed in Talaimari, Kajla, Maingate and Binodpur Bazar of the university area, he added.

The university authority has formed a 3-member panel to probe the incident.