DU law department students protest attack on fellows

Students of the Department of Law at Dhaka University (DU) have protested against an attack by Chhatra League leaders and activists on fellows from the department.

They voiced their protest during a human chain on Thursday.

The protest came a day after five law department students were seriously injured during an attack allegedly by a group of Chhatra League leaders and activists.

The attack took place during a discussion on fasting at the Bangabandhu Tower mosque on the DU campus on Wednesday.

The victims alleged that Tawhidul Sujan, general secretary of Shahbagh Thana Chhatra League, led the attack. Some 45-50 people participated in the attack and fled in motorcycles.

Speaking at the human chain, Dr Asif Nazrul, a professor of the law department, said, “We have observed that there was nothing political about the posters the students were discussing in the mosque on the occasion of Ramadan."

Describing the attack as a criminal offence, he said that the assault carried out by Chhatra League leaders and activists at Shahbag police station constitute a heinous crime under the criminal law of Bangladesh.

He called upon the top leaders of the BCL to expel the attacking activists from the organisation.

Criticising the DU administration, Asif Nazrul posed a question, "I want to ask the DU authorities, if outsiders attack the students of Dhaka University, do you not bear any responsibility?" He also said that law enforcement agencies are accountable for this incident.

He further said, "Are Muslims in Bangladesh to be beaten while holding a religious gathering? Is this why we fought for Bangladesh's independence?"

Several students also spoke at the event, strongly condemning the attack and demanding that the criminals be identified.

The protesting law department students also submitted a memorandum to the proctor demanding justice over the attack.

shakibtahmid05@gmail