RU hall provost relieved of duties over attack on journalists; probe panel given 72hrs to submit report

Highlights:

• RU relieves hall provost of duties over attack on journalists
• Probe committee given 72 hours to submit report
• RU vows suspension, expulsion for those found responsible
• Three campus journalists' groups boycott administration programmes
• Attack left four journalists, six others injured

Rajshahi University authorities have relieved Prof Md Mahbubar Rahman, provost of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, of his duties following an attack on journalists allegedly carried out by Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the ruling BNP.

The university also announced early today (6 October) that it has ordered its committee investigating the incident to submit its report within 72 hours.

Earlier, university officials met representatives of protesting students and journalists in the conference room of the vice-chancellor's office at around 11pm yesterday. The meeting lasted more than two hours and focused on six demands raised by the protesters.

Later, Vice-Chancellor Professor Md Faridul Islam announced the administration's decisions at around 1:15am today.

The administration said those found responsible will face preliminary suspension and be named in the charge sheet of a case it filed over the attack.

Action will also be taken against those who instigated or encouraged the attack, it added.

"We hope to receive the investigation report within 72 hours. Based on the report, the punishment prescribed under university rules will be ensured. The Syndicate will then be convened and appropriate action will be taken through the proper process for further investigation," the VC said. 

He also urged everyone to have faith in the university's decisions.

Earlier, campus journalists and students staged a sit-in outside the administrative building to protest the filing of a case by the university against unidentified individuals over the attack.

At one point, the protesters confined VC Faridul and other university officials inside the building for around 45 minutes. 

Representatives of the students and journalists later held talks with the administration. 

Responding to the protesters' demands, the vice-chancellor said the investigation would be completed and the report submitted within three days. 

Responding to the protesters' demands, the VC said the investigation will be completed and the report submitted within three days.

A committee will then be formed under the Syndicate, followed by an emergency meeting within 15 days to initiate their permanent expulsion, he added.

He also said the university certificates of accused individuals who are no longer students will be cancelled and they will be barred from entering the campus.

"No one responsible for this incident will be spared. Not only those identified directly, but also those who posted on Facebook and contributed to bringing the situation to this point will face action," Faridul stated.

He added that the issue of repeatedly locking the administrative building will be investigated and appropriate action taken.

After the administration announced its decisions, protesting student Shah Paran said the authorities have accepted some of their demands and provided a roadmap for addressing the remaining ones.

"If the administration works properly, we will cooperate. But if we find any negligence, we will announce further protests," he said.

Meanwhile, three journalists' organisations working on the campus have announced a boycott of all university administration programmes until the investigation report is submitted.

The journalists said the boycott will continue until the administration takes visible and effective action against those involved in the attack. 

They will also monitor whether the administration fulfils its commitments within the stipulated timeframe, they added.

On Sunday night (4 October), at least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in an attack outside Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall.

According to eyewitnesses and the injured journalists, leaders and activists of Chhatra Dal were involved in the attack. 

The injured journalists received treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, the central Chhatra Dal expelled three leaders from their organisational posts for violating discipline and issued show-cause notices to six others, giving them 48 hours to respond.