The suspended students are Abdul Hamid of pharmacy department, Nasir Ahmed Rana and Sajjad Shihab of English department, Saiful Hoque Rupu of food and nutrition science department, Jahidur Rahman Nayeem of information and communications engineering department, and Nasir Hossain of economics department.
Vice-Chancellor M Ohiduzzaman came up with the decision after holding a meeting with Proctor Mushfiqur Rahman, Abdus Salam Hall Provost Yusuf Mia and Shudharam police OC Anwar Hossain on Saturday.
“Criminals who do not belong to the university were involved in the attack,” said VC Ohiduzzaman.
“NSTU authorities will lodge cases against them,” he added.
Around 50 outsiders stormed into the Abdus Salam Student Hall wielding rods and sharp weapons on Saturday evening. One of them carried a firearm, said the witnesses.
They broke almost all the doors and windows of the four-storey building and vandalised furniture inside. The attackers also stole cash money, mobile phones and laptop computers from the rooms.
At least 20 students including ‘Biplob,’ ‘Ricky,’ ‘Satyajit,’ ‘Rakib,’ and ‘Sayem’ sustained injuries while the attackers indiscriminately assaulted and hacked the residents in the hall.
Five of them have been admitted to Noakhali General Hospital while the rest have received medical treatments at other private clinics.
On the other hand, Sajjad said criminals came from outside the university and left many of his supporters severely injured.
Hall provost Yusuf Miya said the attack was led by outsiders following an altercation among two student groups over distributing snacks on Victory Day. They have caused enormous economic loss to the university and have left many students injured.
Shudharam police OC Anwar Hossain said the attackers had fled before police reached the spot.
Legal action would be taken if the university authorities file a written complaint, he said.