Authorities on Wednesday closed the Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology for an indefinite period after RUET students had clashed with the students of the Agrani School and College housed in the university campus.
At least 20 people were injured in the clash on the campus at noon.
The university authorities at an emergency meeting, presided over by the vice-chancellor, Sirajul karim Chowdhury, closed the university and asked the students to vacate all four halls by Thursday morning.
Campus sources said that Hasan Ali and Bipu Hossain, students of the Agrani School and College, were sitting on the altar of the Shaheed Minar on the RUET Campus. Third-year mechanical engineering student Tarek Ahmed protested at Hasan and Bipu’s sitting in the place about 1.00pm. Hasan and Bipu then called his friends to protest at Tarek and Tarek also called his friends, which led to a clash.
Both the groups vandalised a stage that was set up for an annual cultural programme of the university school.
Some of the injured are Tarek Ahmed, Mohsin, Russell, Imran, Riad and Ripon, all students of the RUET. Mohona Television camera man Milon, NTV camera man Rubel, daily Sun Shine reporter Imran Hossain and Iqbal of daily Jugantor were also injured.
Mosin, Russell, Imran, Ripon and Tarek were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital with critical injuries in the head, chest and legs.
The others injured were treated in the university medical centre and in clinics near the university.
The Agrani School and College principal, Tohura Khatun, told New Age that RUET students had damaged the state and fired into several rooms and offices of the school and college.
They also looted computers, mobiles, academic materials and valuables from there, she said.
Fire fighters and lawmen later controlled the situation.
The sources said that some Agrani School and College students had beaten up journalists when they were on duty at the place.
In protest at attack on them, the journalists had later blocked the Dhaka–Rajshahi Highway for an hour demanding punishment of the attackers.
After a while, the called off their protests as the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police commissioner, Mohammod Obaidullah, assured them of looking into the matter.
The RUET student adviser, Asraful Islam, told New Age that they had organised an emergency meeting presided over by the RUET vice-chancellor, Sirajul karim Chowdhury.
He also blamed the students of the Agrani School and College as they had beaten the students of the university and journalists.
The Motihar police officer-in-charge, Abul Khayer, said the Agrani School and College authorities had filed a case in this connection.
He also said policemen had been deployed in and around the campus to avert further untoward situation and said the situation was under control.
Courtesy of New Age
