Chhatra League denies responsibility for attack on teachers at SUST

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) has denied responsibility for the attack on teachers at the Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet.

BCL General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain on Sunday seemed to wash their hands of the job amid a furious backlash.

He told bdnews24.com: “The attackers were not from Chhatra League.”

“We’ve come to know that some students carried out the attack by siding with some teachers,” he added.

The teachers, who came under the attack while demonstrating against Vice-Chancellor Aminul Haque Bhuiyan, alleged BCL leaders and activists attacked them to make way for the VC’s entrance to his office.

Bhuiyan, however, backed the attackers saying the students came at their own will to protect the academic environment of the institute.

Members of BCL’s university unit were seen among the students who attacked the teachers agitating for the VC’s removal when they staged a sit-in in front of the administrative building on Sunday morning before an Academic Council meeting.

Amidst widespread condemnation of the attack, BCL General Secretary Hossain said they were looking into the matter.

“We’ll take punitive action if any from the Chhatra League is found linked with the incident,” he said.

Hossain claimed the attackers were only some students.

He also claimed the assaulted teachers in a press release termed the attackers ‘VC’s assault squad’.

Earlier after the attack, the BCL’s SUST unit at a press conference on the campus brushed aside the allegation.

Sanjiban Chakravarty Partha, the BCL’s university unit President, said at the SUST Press Club, “The incident of assault was not an organisational decision.

“A committee will be formed to see if anyone from the Chhatra League is involved, and organisational action will be taken if anyone is found have a hand.”

At the time of the incident, Chakrabarty and General Secretary Imran Khan were seen standing barely 20 feet away.

Explaining the proximity, Chakrabarty said: “The general secretary and I went there because the agitating teachers had called us when the students had gathered in front of the VC’s office.”

The BCL’s Senior Vice President Abu Syed, Vice President Anjan Roy and Senior Joint Secretary Sajedul Islam Sabuj were seen taking part in assault.

Several other BCL activists were with them.

Syed, Roy, Sabuj, Khan, and leader Bijit Lal were present at the press conference.