NSU students protest assault by Bashundhara security guards

Students of North South University have taken to the street against the assault on a fellow student by security guards at Bashundhara Residential Area in Dhaka.

Bhatara Police Station Sub-Inspector Zulfikar Ali told bdnews24.com that the senior officers of the station went to the area after hearing about the 'row' between the guards and the students on Wednesday midnight.

OC Nurul Muttakin told bdnews24.com around 2am on Thursday that police were trying to calm the demonstrating students.

The assaulted student, Shahriar Hasnat Tapu, is from BBA sixth semester, who was treated at Apollo Hospital.

Electrical and computer engineering department student Labib Khan said Tapu received injuries in several parts of his body.

Kamrul Islam Chowdhury, who recently graduated from the private university, told bdnews24.com that Tapu and another student got involved in an altercation with the Bashundhara security guards over parking a motorcycle at the Apollo Gate, an entrance to the residential area, around 10pm.

At one stage of the arguments, the guards attacked the duo, Kamrul said.

"Tapu was severely injured in the attack. When 10 to 15 other students went to the area to inquire about the incident, the guards beat them up too. Later, more students joined, and a scuffle took place. Tapu was rescued at the time and taken to the hospital," he added.

Labib said he rushed to the area after hearing about the incident and saw Tapu lying unconscious.

"The guards were still beating him up. Tapu vomited at the place three to four times," he said.

He alleged the guards were trying to pull Tapu up to their vehicle even though police were there.

"Then I took him to the hospital on a rickshaw," he added.

After a CT scan, the doctors said Tapu was 'out of danger', according to Labib.

He was taken home around 2:30am.

When the news of the assault spread, the other students of the university came and launched protests.

A resident of the area said they had been shouting slogans demanding action against the guards until the wee hours.