The students led by the cadres went berserk during a protest against increasing thefts at their rooms.

Provost Prof Shahidur Rahman submitted his resignation letter to Vice-Chancellor Prof Faisul Islam Faruki yesterday morning.

Students of the hall, dominated by the Shibir, said they have been complaining about thefts for the last several weeks but the provost did not take any action so far.

Thefts have been taken place in at least 12 rooms this month, said Ismail Hossain, a student.

Agitating students went on the rampage after unknown people stole Tk 900, clothes, a CD player, calculator and valuable books from the room No. 41 on Wednesday night, they said.

They stormed the hall office breaking open its main gate and damaged the furniture. They also broke into the rooms of house tutors and broke lights and windowpanes.

Later, they rushed into the provost's house and assaulted some of his family members.

Hall Shibir President Sajib and his men, including Asad and Tapu, led the attacks and incited the protesters to attack the provost's house, students said.

Prof Shahidur Rahman told reporters that the students assaulted his wife and ransacked his house during the attack.

He also said that he increased the number of hall guards several times, installed enough lights and put up grills around the hall to prevent thefts.

A source close to him said the incidents of stealing might have a link with a conspiracy by a vested quarter against the provost.

On Monday, Shibir cadres beat up Rakib Haider Sabuj, a hockey player of the university, charging him with theft at room No. 43 without any evidence.

Additional police have been deployed in front of the provost's house.