Islamic University students fear vacating halls amid ‘attacks’

Residential students of Kushtia's Islamic University are in fear of vacating halls amid reports of attacks purportedly by striking transport operators.

The university was shut indefinitely following violent protests in the aftermath of a student’s death on Sunday.

Vehicles were off the Kushtia-Khulna Highway on Monday as bus owners went on strike in the district following vandalism and arson that damaged about 50 buses during the protests.

An IU student was mugged outside the campus in the morning.

The students ran riot on Sunday following the death of third-year student Touhidur Rahman Titu on the campus. They indiscriminately damaged buses, some of them hired to transport them.

Following the rampage, the university ordered them to leave its residential halls by 10am on Monday.

Police have filed two cases over Sunday's incident.

However, five vehicle owners’ and workers’ organisations called a strike protesting against the arson.

Most of the IU students have not been able to leave the residential halls because of the transport crisis and apprehension of attacks by the strikers, said 'Jesmin' of Khaleda Zia Hall.

Nazma Khanam of the same hall said the university had taken no steps to ensure the students reached home safely.

Saddam Hall's residential student Saifur Rahman claimed a band of stick-wielding men surrounded him as soon as he had stepped out of the campus and snatched his laptop.

The transport leaders did not respond to requests for comments.

IU Police Station OC Mohibul Islam said he was aware that the students going out of campus were having trouble due to the transport crisis.

He said they had not received any complaints on attacks by the protesters.

Amid fears of insecurity, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Shahinur Rahman told bdnews24.com that safety of the students clearing the residential halls was a top priority for them.