Tender, land dispute behind JU violence
Ashik Hossain
JU correspondent
Jahangirnagar University, July 7 (bdnews24.com) — The bloody violence at Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Monday was allegedly an outburst of pent-up anger among Al-Biruni Hall Chhatra League men and those on the university committee.
The violence saw 50 people getting injured — 12 of them flung from the roof of the four-storey Al-Biruni Hall — including an assistant proctor and 11 rounds of gunshot in the presence of the vice-chancellor.
There are allegations that even the VC was manhandled when he tried to resolve the tension between rival groups at the student dormitory.
On condition of anonymity, some Chhatra League workers of Al Biruni Hall said there had been a rift over sharing commissions from tender bidders and control of the dormitory seats.
The Chhatra League activists also said that lack of compromise over sharing posts on the university's central committee was also another reason behind the mayhem.
Moreover, an understanding between JU president Rashedul Islam Shafin and a local influential man allegedly took place over the possession of one Moslem Mia's land adjoining the university.
Witnesses said that the influential man had begun frequenting the campus.
Locals of Bishmail area alleged that Chhatra League cadre Sirajul Islam, known as an armed cadre backed by JU organising secretary Shahadat Hossain, is the mastermind of many crimes in the adjoining areas of the university.
Shortly after Monday's violence, the university authorities had formed a authorities had formed a five-member committee, led by pro-vice chancellor Farhad Hossain, to ascertain the reason of the clash and identify those involved in the violence.
When asked, Hossain, however, declined to make any comments.
JU Chhatra League president Shafin denied any involvement of any one Chhatra League cadres in the land dispute. "No one from the Chhatra League was involved with the incident."
JU Chhatra League president Shammya said neither he nor the university president had any involvement with Monday's violence.
He termed the violence as a 'conspiracy', saying, "The incident was caused just to dissolve the university's committee."
About the land dispute between him and Shafin, he said, "I don't know anything about tender or land issues."
On Monday, he had, however, blamed Shafin for the violence.
Bangladesh Chhatra League on Monday suspended 17 members of its Jahangirnagar University unit following a series of bloody clashes between two Chhatra League factions.
The BCL central working committee also suspended all activities of the university unit.
The former committee of BCL's Jahangirnagar University unit was dissolved after a bloody clash between two factions on Feb 16, 2009.
The new committee was formed on May 19 last year with Shafin and Nirjhar as president and secretary respectively.
Only four days later, activists of the joint secretary SM Azgar Ali attacked and injured eight BCL activists of Maulana Bhashani Hall, including their vice-president Rashed Dicken.
JU correspondent
Jahangirnagar University, July 7 (bdnews24.com) — The bloody violence at Jahangirnagar University (JU) on Monday was allegedly an outburst of pent-up anger among Al-Biruni Hall Chhatra League men and those on the university committee.
The violence saw 50 people getting injured — 12 of them flung from the roof of the four-storey Al-Biruni Hall — including an assistant proctor and 11 rounds of gunshot in the presence of the vice-chancellor.
There are allegations that even the VC was manhandled when he tried to resolve the tension between rival groups at the student dormitory.
On condition of anonymity, some Chhatra League workers of Al Biruni Hall said there had been a rift over sharing commissions from tender bidders and control of the dormitory seats.
The Chhatra League activists also said that lack of compromise over sharing posts on the university's central committee was also another reason behind the mayhem.
Moreover, an understanding between JU president Rashedul Islam Shafin and a local influential man allegedly took place over the possession of one Moslem Mia's land adjoining the university.
Witnesses said that the influential man had begun frequenting the campus.
Locals of Bishmail area alleged that Chhatra League cadre Sirajul Islam, known as an armed cadre backed by JU organising secretary Shahadat Hossain, is the mastermind of many crimes in the adjoining areas of the university.
Shortly after Monday's violence, the university authorities had formed a authorities had formed a five-member committee, led by pro-vice chancellor Farhad Hossain, to ascertain the reason of the clash and identify those involved in the violence.
When asked, Hossain, however, declined to make any comments.
JU Chhatra League president Shafin denied any involvement of any one Chhatra League cadres in the land dispute. "No one from the Chhatra League was involved with the incident."
JU Chhatra League president Shammya said neither he nor the university president had any involvement with Monday's violence.
He termed the violence as a 'conspiracy', saying, "The incident was caused just to dissolve the university's committee."
About the land dispute between him and Shafin, he said, "I don't know anything about tender or land issues."
On Monday, he had, however, blamed Shafin for the violence.
Bangladesh Chhatra League on Monday suspended 17 members of its Jahangirnagar University unit following a series of bloody clashes between two Chhatra League factions.
The BCL central working committee also suspended all activities of the university unit.
The former committee of BCL's Jahangirnagar University unit was dissolved after a bloody clash between two factions on Feb 16, 2009.
The new committee was formed on May 19 last year with Shafin and Nirjhar as president and secretary respectively.
Only four days later, activists of the joint secretary SM Azgar Ali attacked and injured eight BCL activists of Maulana Bhashani Hall, including their vice-president Rashed Dicken.
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