The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

A group of activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP on Thursday night assaulted five journalists of different print and electronic media and at least 10 students of Mass Communication and Journalism (MCJ) department of the University of Dhaka.

The incident took place on the day just after the release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia.

Campus sources said a group of 25 to 30 JCD cadres led by Aminur Rahman Amin, President of Sir AF Rahman Hall unit of JCD, viciously attacked on journalists and MCJ students with iron rods, cricket stamps, wood sticks and Chapati (sharp knife) at the Teacher Student Centre (TSC) area on the university campus.

Seriously injured Shah Alam Kiron, a second year MCJ student also a contributing reporter of The New Age, was rushed to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) with severe injures in his back, hand and leg. Later, he was shifted to the National Institute for Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (NITOR), according to the recommendation by the DMCH doctors.

Injured there other were: Hasan Titol, DU correspondent of television channel ATN Bangla, Soleman Niloy, DU Correspondent of the daily Janata and Biplop Chandra Sarker, DU Correspondent of the daily Bhorer Kagoj.

Other injured reporters and students including Nadim Mahmud, Ork Asif Shawon, Durjoy, Deen Islam Angel, Habibur Rahman and Tarek received treatment from DU medical centre.

Sources said the incident took place while the MCJ students entered into altercation with a shooting team of a drama serial titled 'Aim in Life' over a trifling matter in front of Rokeya Hall on the campus. After the altercation Amin reached the spot and harassed MCJ students for altercation with the shooting team.

Meanwhile, armed JCD cadres from AF Rahman Hall rushed to the spot getting Amin's direction over phone and swept on MCJ students.

"We had nothing with JCD men, even we did not know Amin. The JCD cadres suddenly attacked upon us," said a victim.

In the afternoon, MCJ students at a press conference demanded exemplary punishment of the JCD cadres who attacked them. They also demanded immediate expulsion of Amin and other JCD cadres from the university.

To press home their demands, students have chalked out a programme which include staging demonstration on the university campus and submission of memorandum to the DU vice chancellor Prof SMA Faiz today.

They will also hold a solidarity rally comprising teachers, intellectuals, journalists, lawyers and students on Tuesday to realise their demands.

A case has been filed against JCD men with Shahbagh police station in this connection.

DU unit president of JCD, Hasan Mamun admitted to the reporters that Amin and his team were involved with the incident and said that they would take immediate highest organisational organisational against the responsible persons.

DU proctor Prof AK Firoz Ahmed told the journalists that without previous permission any type of shooting is illegal at the university. University authorities would certainly take strict action against the responsible, Prof Firoz added.

Seeking anonymity, a student of JCD said that during last nine years Amin had been committing hijacking, extortion, assaulting common students and running drug business in the university campus.

He controls drug business in the campus in peace under the shadow of JCD's Senoir Vice President Salauddin Tuku. He is involved in each and every extortion activities on campus, New Market, Nilkhet and Palashi areas.

Source said Aminul did not participate in any party programme. Though General Secretary Jewel and Organizational Secretary Hemel of F Rahman Hall participated in these activities, most members of his cadre group remain inactive at daylight. They become active to commit extortion, snatching, hijacking at night.

A number of extortion and hijacking cases had been filed with Shabagh and New Market Thana aginst him but the law enforcement agencies are yet to take any stern action against him.