Case filed over attack on journalists at Rajshahi University

A case has been filed at Motihar Police Station against several unidentified people over an attack on journalists at Rajshahi University (RU).

Md Monir Hossain, deputy registrar of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, filed the case today (5 October), said Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Md Gaziur Rahman.

"If their involvement is established through the investigation, action will certainly be taken against them according to the law," he added.

Meanwhile, the RU administration has formed a five-member committee to investigate the attack, allegedly involving leaders and activists of the Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the ruling BNP.

RU Proctor Prof Mahbubur Rahman confirmed the formation of the committee.

However, journalists have expressed anger over the filing of the case against unidentified suspects, saying the identities of those involved are already known and video footage of the incident is available.

Speaking to The Business Standard, Ashikul Islam Dhruvo, president of RU Press Club, said, "We have all the footage of the attack, and the whole country has seen it. It is clear who was involved. Their names, designations and identities have already been published in the media."

He demanded that the case name everyone involved in the attack and that they be arrested promptly.

Former president of the Rajshahi University Journalists Association Irffan Tamim also said there was "no ambiguity" over who was involved, adding that the names and identities of the accused had been published by different media outlets.

The journalists had given the authorities until 4pm today to arrest those involved in the attack. They have also demanded that the university administration take visible and effective action against those involved.

Earlier today, journalists formed a human chain in front of Rabindra Bhaban on campus at 11am. They protested the university administration's failure to form an investigation committee 14 hours after the attack.

They later withdrew their protest programmes after the university administration assured them that a case would be filed by today.

The journalists also demanded that the university cancel the student status of students involved in the attack and revoke the certificates of those who have already completed their studies.

They also called for those accused who are not university students to be barred from entering the campus.

The attack took place around 8:30pm yesterday (4 October) in front of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall. Several journalists were injured, including four who sustained serious injuries.

The severely injured journalists are bdnews24.com RU correspondent Arifuzzaman Korban, Agamir Shomoy correspondent Zahidul Islam, The Daily Star correspondent Nur Ahsan Mridul and Samakal correspondent Mainul Islam Raju.

Several leaders and activists of the university unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, including its vice-president Ahsan Habib, have been accused of involvement in the attack.

Following the incident, journalists demanded that the university file a case, arrest those accused and take disciplinary action against them.