RU tense as JCD factions stage showdown
RU Correspondent
Fresh tension mounted on Rajshahi University campus yesterday as both factions of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) staged separate showdown against Sunday's violence that took place to protest inclusion of Jamat-e-Islami backed teachers in BNP's VC panel.Many students left the campus before noon fearing clashes. Several teachers and students were injured and offices ransacked during Sunday's violence. Yesterday, anti-Jamaat JCD activists who were blamed for Sunday's violence marched campus streets in presence of police. Led by former JCD assistant general secretary Wahed-uz Zaman and office secretary Sohel Rana, some 30 of them met RU Pro Vice Chancellor Prof Shahadat Hossain Mondol at his office and urged him to drop their names if a case is filed for Sunday's violence, sources said. They also demanded a fair probe into the incidents and told Mondol that their opponents in the party were involved in the attacks. Instead of handing over them to police, Mondol, also Acting VC now, sought their cooperation in maintaining peace on the campus. Mondol is also blamed for having a hand in the violence, the sources added. The other faction backed by teachers belonging to pro-Jamaat VC group also brought out a big procession on the campus demanding removal of Mondol and punishment of those responsible for Sunday's violence. Led by former JCD organizing secretary Rafiqul Islam, they also threatened of tough agitation if action is not taken against the 'real culprits'. A case was filed with Motihar thana alleging involvement of 40 people for Sunday's violence, but none was identified. Akram Hossain, officer-in-charge of the thana, said RU authorities have not named any of the attackers. "Even those who were assaulted are not telling names of the culprits". Talking to this correspondent, many RU teachers also said the campus is 'without a guardian' following the feud between Jamat backed VC Prof Faisul Islam Faruki and BNP aligned Pro VC Mondol. "In absence of the VC, none of the pro-Jamaat teachers in the VC group listen to the Pro VC. They seldom attend meetings called by the Pro VC and so there is virtually no administration on the campus, said a senior teacher.
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