BCL attacks students at DU

At least 40 students were injured as Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders and activists attacked students who confined Dhaka University Vice Chancellor to  his office for several hours to press home their demands.
Some 12 protestors were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with minor to severe injuries. Besides, some eight journalists and photo journalists were also injured, one of them seriously and was admitted to DMCH. 
Among the identified injured students were Bangladesh Chhatra Union General Secretary Liton Nandi, DU unit Chhatra Federation president Umme Habiba Benojir, Movement Convener Masud Al Mahdi, Samajtantrik Chhatra Federation leader Progati Barman, Eva Mojumder, student Rajib Kumar Das, Tajwar, Johorlal Roy, Rayhan, Rasel, Jafrul Nadim, Fahad, Sadik. They were taken to the DMCH for treatment.           
Injured journalists were identified as DU Journalists Association vice president, also campus reporter of Daily Independent Mir Arshadul Hoque, Treasurer, also the Daily Observer campus reporter Abdul Karim and Aranno Arif of the New Age, among others. Of them Arshad was admitted to the DMCH.    
Meanwhile, some leaders and activists of BCL also got injured during scuffles between protestors and BCL men and in an attack by left-leaning student leaders, claimed SM Jakir Hossain, General Secretary of  the students wing of the ruling Awami League.        
About 20 to 25 activists of the BCL led by Jakir Hossain stepped in to rescue DU VC, who was confined for about four hours by protestors under the banner of 'Students against Repression'.
As per schedule the protesters brought out a procession around 11:30am on Tuesday which paraded the university campus and marched towards Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman's office but they were barred as the authority locked the main gate of the office.
Later, they broke the collapsible gate and the lock of the office and entered the VC office.
They chanted slogans demanding withdrawal of false cases against 50 unnamed vandals, resignation of failed proctor and exemplary punishment for the BCL men who assaulted the demonstrators.   
After demonstrating there for about three hours, they confined VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman when he was about to leave his office to attend a meeting of Board of Advance Studies through the back door of his office.
Encircling him one of the demonstrator, Masud Al Mahdi, demanded firm assurance from the VC that their demands would be met otherwise he won't be allowed to leave his office. About an hour later BCL leaders and activists rescued him from the protestors.  During the VC's rescue some protestors allegedly punched the VC and Jakir Hossain, who sustained minor injuries.
During the confinement, VC Akhtaruzzaman said, "As per the University Ordinance 1973 all law breakers must be brought to book."
"Through proper investigation legal steps would be taken against the attackers," he added.
After rescuing the VC, some 800 BCL's leaders and activists took position at the entrance of the registrar's building and locked the gates.
Later, BCL activists swooped on demonstrators in which journalists and photo journalists were also injured.
At one stage when Liton Nandi came out with protestors BCL activists attacked him and injured him severely. However, senior BCL leader rescued him from the attackers and rushed him to the DMCH.
The situation came under control but the campus remained very tense as BCL leaders and activists positioned themselves at vantage points.
Meanwhile, at a press briefing at Madhu's Canteen BCL President Saifur Rahman Sohag said, "We want punishment for those who attacked Vice Chancellor Prof Akhtaruzzaman."
SM Jakir Hossain said, "General students went there to rescue the VC  from confinement while the left-leaning student leaders attacked the general students. We only tried to control the situation."
He also claimed that some activists of BCL received injuries during the clash.
DU unit Chhatra Union president Tuhin Kanti Das claimed that about 35to 40 students were injured in the attack on them by BCL leaders and activists. Among them severely injured are being treated at the DMCH.
On the other hand, Pragatishil Chhatra Jote brought out a procession protesting the attack on their fellow students on the campus in the evening.  They also demanded punishment for the attackers.