BCL activists at Sylhet’s SUST campus manhandle teachers

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) activists have attacked teachers in Sylhet’s Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST).

A faction of pro-Awami League teachers have been demonstrating for the last few months for the VC’s removal.
 
On Sunday, they came under attack from the activists of the BCL, which is the student affiliate of the ruling Awami League.
 
The teachers’ faction ‘Mohan Muktijuddher Chetanay Udbuddha Shikshak Parishad’ had announced plans for a sit-in protest in front of the Administrative Building between 9am and 5pm on Sunday.
 
VC Aminul Haque Bhuiyan convened an Academic Council meeting at 3pm, triggering tension on the campus.
 
Around 5:30am, activists of SUST unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), who have been supporting the VC, gathered in front of the administrative building.
 
Demonstrating teachers began to arrive around 7:30am.
 
About an hour later, BCL activists snatched away a banner from the teachers before shoving and pushing them away from the place.
 
Even as the teachers were manhandled, the VC entered the building and went to his office on the first floor. 

BCL’s SUST unit President Sanjiban Chakravarty Partha and General Secretary Imran Khan were seen standing at least 30 feet away from the spot when the teachers were being manhandled.

SUST Proctor Kamruzzaman Chowdhury and Students’ Welfare Advisor Rahsed Talukder were also seen standing at a distance and neither tried to restrain the BCL activists.

Local police OC Aktar Hossain was seen standing between the teachers and BCL activists, pleading all to calm down, but the BCL activists did not respond to the appeal by the police officer.

They pushed and manhandled the agitating teachers after the VC went to his office in an effort to break up the protest.

Physics teacher Yasmeen Haque fell down during the scuffle. A BCL activist was seen kicking another teacher during that time.

Haque told journalists that the VC will be held ‘responsible’ for the attack on the teachers.
 
The teachers’ group convener Syed Shamsul Islam said at least seven teachers were injured.
 
“Chhatra League activists attacked us...the VC instigated the students to attack us,” he told bdnews24.com. 
 
Police, however, refused comment.

Yasmeen Haque

“You have seen what happened. I will not say a single word on this matter. No comments,” is what Jalalabad police OC Aktar Hossain, who was present at the spot, told bdnews24.com.

The BCL says that it was not an organisational decision to stop demonstrating teachers.

“Those who joined (to stop demonstrating teachers) exercised personal choice, it was not the organisation’s decision,” SUST BCL unit President Partha told bdnews24.com.

Journalists, on the spot to cover the incident, were also assaulted by BCL activists.

Jamuna Television’s Sylhet Bureau chief Mahbubur Rahman Ripon alleged political impunity in the BCL action. 

“Not bringing BCL leaders to justice for the attacks on journalists around the country has encouraged the incident today.”

SUST Press Club protested against the assault on journalists and demanded a proper probe.