RU student assaulted, vandalism at Rajshahi railway station
Agitated students carried out extensive vandalism at the station following the assault of a Rajshahi University student. Photo: Agamir Somoy
Following the assault of a Rajshahi University (RU) student at Rajshahi Railway Station, agitated students carried out extensive vandalism at the station. From 12:00 midnight to 1:30 am on Sunday, glass windows, dustbins, shops, rooms of officers and employees, signboards and CCTV cameras were vandalized in several rounds. Four members of the Railway Nirapatta Bahini (RNB) have been temporarily suspended over the incident.
The student who was assaulted is Ayub Ali, a student of the 2022 to 2023 academic session in the Department of Islamic History and Culture. He is currently undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.
In an office order signed by Bangladesh Railway Western Zone Chief Commandant Md. Ashraful Islam on Sunday, four RNB members were temporarily suspended. They are Md. Arif Hossain, Md. Rokon Uddin, Md. Shafiqul Islam and Md. Shahadat Hossain.
It was learned that Ayub Ali had gone to Rajshahi Railway Station to receive his uncle. At that time, two students from the Department of English at RU got into an argument with railway security personnel on duty. When Ayub spoke in support of the students, he was allegedly beaten severely.
In protest against the incident, students blocked the railway line near the university by setting fire to it around 11:00 pm. As a result, the Dhaka bound Dhumketu Express was stranded in the Harian area. Later, the students moved toward the station along the railway line and began vandalizing it.
Eyewitnesses said the students attacked various structures at the station with tree branches, bamboo sticks, sticks and bricks. The railway police station, parcel office and Railway Nirapatta Bahini office were also damaged.
Rajshahi City Corporation Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Riton went to the scene to stop the vandalism. When the agitated students chanted “fake, fake” at him, he left the station. Earlier, when leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal led by its metropolitan unit Member Secretary Imdadul Haque Limon went to the scene, a chase and counter chase situation developed with the students. Later, the district administration tried to calm both sides.
At one point, the university’s proctorial body and teachers from various departments tried to control the situation by putting up barricades to bring the students back to campus. However, the students continued moving along the railway line. At one point, they again engaged in a chase and counter chase with leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal and Jubo Dal from behind. Later, around 1:30 am, they left the station and returned to campus following the intervention of the proctorial body.
Ayub’s classmate Mohammad Mizan said, “There was an argument between several students and railway employees at the railway station. Ayub was beaten severely because he spoke in support of them.”
RUCSU General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar said, “I will not apologize even a little on behalf of my students. Perhaps they have realized today how serious it is to physically assault students over every little thing. If a case has to be filed, file it against those who attacked them.”
University Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman said, “The situation was brought under control after discussions and assurances that the students’ demands would be accepted. They understood the matter and returned to campus. I hope such an unwanted incident will not happen again in the future.”
Western Railway Director General Ahmmed Hossain Masum said, “Such violence is not desirable. CCTV footage of the incident is being collected and sent to intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies. Legal action will be taken against those involved.”
