Tejgaon College assault sparks clash of NCP-JCD claims

Two students assaulted at Tejgaon College in Dhaka have been claimed as activists by the National Citizen Party (NCP), while Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) insists they were long-time members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League.

The incident on Thursday evening sparked rival processions by the two groups in the college area.

Sher-e-Bangla Nagar Police Station chief Imaul Haque told bdnews24.com at night: "We received information that several students had beaten and confined two others on campus in the afternoon. When we arrived with force, they had already been released. An NCP member then came forward and claimed they were their activists."

No case has been filed over the incident, the OC added.

NCP's central organiser and Dhaka North coordinator Muntasir Mahmud said the victims-Suman and Rafsan, both identified with a single name and current Tejgaon College students-had been active participants in the July movement of 2024 alongside the NCP.

"JCD members attacked and confined them after luring them away from a meeting with the principal. They were first assaulted near Building No 7, then again beside the auditorium," he said.

Mahmud also claimed irregularities with campus CCTV. "The college has over 90 cameras, but we were told there were none covering the spot. Later, we saw cameras there, but when we checked the control room, the ones covering the assault sites were switched off."

Former general secretary of Tejgaon College JCD Belal Hossain Khan claimed the two victims were Chhatra League members.

"They have been with Chhatra League until recently, but after the 5th of August [last year] they joined the anti-discrimination camp," he said.

Belal alleged they had close ties with a college Chhatra League leader named Shanto, with multiple photos of them together circulating on social media for days.

Asked whether JCD had the right to assault Chhatra League activists, he replied: "General students were angry at them. They are known in the college as Chhatra League. When spotted on campus, they were confronted by students, among whom were some JCD activists."    �"bdnews24.com