Nahid promises actions against RU attackers

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid has assured actions against those involved in Sunday’s attack on Rajshahi University’s (RU) students.

Nahid claimed Islami Chhatra Shibir activists had tried to create chaos by ‘joining’ the demonstrations for cancellation of hiked fees and evening courses.

Shibir is the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

“I'm sorry for what happened in Rajshahi,” he told reporters on Monday, adding that he was “worried and angry” at the same time.

“The VC has been directed to take necessary steps to reopen the university as soon as possible,” Nahid said.

The Home Ministry would also take ‘effective steps’, he added.

“Whoever is found responsible will be punished,” the minister said when his attention was drawn to activists of the ruling Awami League student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), attacking the demonstrators with arms.

RU students had been protesting for a fee-hike rollback and cancellation of evening courses since last Tuesday.

The university authorities yielded to the students’ demand on fees on Saturday, but stood by the decision on evening courses, prompting the students to continue with the agitations.

On Sunday, BCL activists attacked the protesting students with firearms. The police also lobbed teargas shells and rubber-bullets, which left over 50 students injured.

Following the incident, authorities suspended all academic activities forthwith and ordered the students to vacate their dormitories by 8 am the next morning.