Two students of Rabindra University in Sirajganj were assaulted in two separate incidents this week—one inside the campus and the other outside—sparking tension and protests among students accusing the authorities of taking ‘biased and inconsistent’ actions.
According to university sources, on Thursday night, a quarrel over a social media post led to an altercation between two students.
Jahidul Islam, a student in the university’s management department, was reportedly assaulted by Hridoy Gazi, a sociology department student who also serves as the joint general secretary of the university unit of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
Following the assault, students staged demonstrations demanding justice. In response to the outcry, the university held an emergency meeting on Friday and made the decision to temporarily suspend Hridoy from academic activities.
The order was signed by Nazrul Islam, the university’s acting proctor, who stated, ‘Disciplinary action has been taken in line with university regulations. Violence on campus will not be tolerated.’
In a separate incident, Bangla department first-year student Hassan Iktidar Nipun was allegedly assaulted at about 1:00 am on Tuesday outside the campus at Ramgati by a local man known as Biplob, described by locals as mentally unstable and addicted to drugs.
Nipun was first taken to Shahjadpur Upazila Health Complex and later referred to Sirajganj Sadar Hospital.
Police arrested Biplob soon after the attack, but no case has yet been filed.
Students, however, locked the university gates on Thursday afternoon, demanding the administration to file a case and protesting against the delay.
Regarding the incident, the acting proctor said, ‘The incident happened outside campus premises, so the university cannot legally file a case. However, we’ve ensured Nipun’s treatment and cooperated with police.’
Shahjadpur police station officer-in-charge Aslam Ali confirmed the arrest, saying, ‘The accused has been sent to court. But without a formal complaint from the victim or university, the investigation cannot proceed further.’
The JCD’s university unit, however, criticised the administration’s move to suspend Hridoy, calling it ‘politically motivated’.
Attempts to contact the university’s vice-chancellor Professor Hasan Talukder for his comments were unsuccessful.
However, pro-vice-chancellor Suman Kanti Barua told reporters, ‘Nipun hasn’t submitted any written statement. He wasn’t alone that night, and the reason for going out so late is still unclear. Nevertheless, the university provided him medical assistance.’
The dual incidents have left the campus tensed, with students demanding equal justice and transparent disciplinary procedures.
