The Rajshahi University (RU) administration has yet to form an investigation committee, even 14 hours after activists of the university unit of Chhatra Dal attacked journalists on campus.
The attack took place in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall around 8:30pm on Sunday, leaving at least 10 people injured, including four journalists.
The injured RU correspondents were Arifuzzaman Korban of bdnews24.com, Jahidul Islam of Agamir Somoy, Noor Ahsan Mridul of The Daily Star, and Mainul Islam Raju of Samakal.
Several leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal’s RU unit, including its vice-president Ahsan Habib, have been accused of involvement in the attack.
Journalists expressed strong outrage as no investigation committee had been formed even 14 hours after the assault.
RU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Mamunur Rashid said Vice-Chancellor Faridul Islam was currently away from campus. He said an investigation committee will be formed once the VC returned in the afternoon.
Journalists demanded that the university administration file a case against the criminals, ensure their arrest, and take strict punitive action. Although the journalists withdrew their immediate protest programme after receiving assurances from the administration that a case would be filed by Monday.
They also announced a human chain protest in front of Rabindra Bhaban on the campus.
The journalists put forward a set of demands to the administration. Their demands include the filing of a case, ensuring their arrest, cancelling the student status of enrolled students involved in the attack, and revoking the academic certificates of former students who have completed their studies.
Additionally, they demanded a complete ban on campus entry for any accused individuals who are not students of the university.
