Attackers wanted campus bloodbath to cripple government, says Dhaka University VC

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman has claimed those who attacked his residence had attempted to unleash chaos through killings on the campus to bring the university and the government to a halt.

The vice-chancellor made the remarks to the media during Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader’s visit to his residence on Tuesday morning.

The attackers wanted to 'drench politics with blood’, Akhtaruzzaman said.

“The motive was clear. They wanted to kill and let loose terror on the campus to bring the university and government to a grinding halt and cause instability in the country.”

“This is what I believe. I don’t think the quota has anything to do with it.”

Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader and Rashed Khan Menon, chairman of Workers Party of Bangladesh, visit the house of the Dhaka University vice-chancellor after it was ransacked and vandalised by an unidentified group. Photo: asif mahmud ove

The vice-chancellor also defended law enforcers who did not take action against the attackers.

“It was the goal of these vandals to push the police and RAB into action, which would have led to many deaths.”

“We did not beat down these criminals with the force of RAB and police. Instead, we did it wisely, bravely and by making moral decisions, loss of lives was prevented.”

Students and job seekers have rallied under the banner of the “Council for the Protection of General Students’ Rights” for sometime to demand reforms to the quota system for government jobs.

A large-scale protest in Shahbagh and on the campus on Sunday triggered a clash between protesters on one side and police and the Bangladesh Chhatra League on the other when police used teargas and rubber bullets to disperse the demonstrators.

Clashes between the two sides continued into the early hours of Monday morning, leading to the injuries of over 150 people.

The residence of the vice-chancellor was vandalised and ransacked between 1:30am and 2am.

The attackers came marching from the east of the building around 1:15am, the vice-chancellor said.

“They took 15 minutes to break the main gate. They then climbed the walls, broke the CCTV cameras and began smashing things.”

Nearly 70-80 people armed with sticks and iron rods entered the compound and began to break the lights.

“At that time, I realised they were not the protesters, and they were trying to cause panic.”

“My family were horrified. I thought they might leave having vandalised the ground floor. I moved to go downstairs when they came up and began to vandalise my bedroom … my wife and daughter managed to escape.”

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman

Asked what action would be taken if a university student was found to have been involved with the attack, the VC responded that the question irrelevant.

“If someone is involved in a criminal activity, they would be punished according to the regulations of the university, and the law of the land.”

“The university will also take the necessary action. There is no place for such lawlessness here. There will be harsh punishments for any of the criminals identified. Action will even be taken against their patrons as well.”

Asked about his mental state, Prof Akhtaruzzaman said he was fortunate to be alive.

“I extend my sincere thanks to those who saved my life during vandalism. Some of the masked men tried to beat me with rods,” he said.