RU journalists attacked, Chhatra Dal blames Shibir

At least four journalists were seriously injured after allegedly being attacked with local weapons by Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal activists while performing their professional duties at Rajshahi University on Sunday night.

The incident took place in front of Ziaur Rahman Hall at around 8:30 PM.

Despite photos and videos appearing to show Chhatra Dal leaders and activists carrying local weapons during the attack, university unit Chhatra Dal President Sultan Ahmed Rahi blamed Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir for the incident and described it as an “unwanted misunderstanding”.

In a social media post after the incident, Rahi wrote that Shibir was conspiring to create a rift between journalists and Chhatra Dal.

He said university journalists were “brothers, friends” and an important part of the university and society.

However, he did not directly explain the presence of Chhatra Dal activists carrying local weapons in photos and videos of the attack. Instead, he said no Chhatra Dal activist would intentionally assault a journalist and accused Shibir of attempting to create “distance and misunderstanding” between the two groups.

Rahi also said that if any journalist had been subjected to an unwanted misunderstanding during the incident, the matter would be taken seriously and necessary steps would be taken after a proper investigation.

Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal university unit Vice-President Ahsan Habib, who was seen in a video from the incident, referred to journalists as “covert Shibir” in a social media post.

He claimed that no independent journalist had been attacked and that Chhatra Dal activists had only resisted people who came to the hall to attack them.

Witnesses and people familiar with the incident said Chhatra Dal activists marched from the university’s Transport Market to Ziaur Rahman Hall at around 8:00 PM allegedly intending to assault hall parliament General Secretary Ariful Islam.

Several of the activists were seen carrying local weapons, including machetes, cleavers, hockey sticks, pipes and bats, they said.

The activists allegedly hid the weapons after the proctor arrived at the scene, according to witnesses.

Journalists went to the area after learning that Chhatra Dal activists were carrying weapons there and were allegedly attacked with the weapons.

The seriously injured journalists were identified as Zahidul Islam, a representative of Agamir Shomoy; Noor Ahsan Mridul, Rajshahi University correspondent of The Daily Star; Arifuzzaman Korban, Rajshahi University correspondent of bdnews24; and Mainul Islam Raju, a representative of Samakal. Several other journalists were also injured.

Chhatra Dal university unit Vice-President Ahsan Habib, Joint General Secretary Hasibul Islam, Vice-President Shariful Islam and Assistant Office Secretary Shahriar Alam have been named as those allegedly involved in the attack.

Witnesses said at least 10 Chhatra Dal activists took part in the attack on the journalists.

No immediate evidence was found of any involvement of Chhatra Shibir in the incident or the attack.