Locals involved in clash with RU students, 200 injured

Classes and examinations of Rajshahi University have been withheld due to violent confrontation between students and locals.

Sources said nearly 200 students were injured in the clash prompting the authorities to deploy 7 platoons of BGB.

All academic functions are initially set to be put on hold till Monday.

More than 200 Rajshahi University (RU) students were injured in a clash with locals over a bus seat on Saturday.

The incident took place at the university's Binodpur gate in the evening, said Professor Sultan-Ul-Islam, pro-vice-chancellor of the university.

The injured are now receiving treatment at Rajshahi University Medical Centre and Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH).

At least 10 campus journalists were also injured while covering the incident.

Al Amin Akash, a student of Social Science at the varsity, was returning to his campus from Bogura on a bus on the day. He was locked in an argument with driver of the bus Shariful Islam and supervisor Ripon over sitting on a seat.

When the vehicle reached Binodpur Bazar, they were locked in an argument again. Then, a local favoured the bus staffers and at one point he locked in a scuffle with the student.

On receiving information, a number of students came to the spot and attacked the locals, which led to the clash.

Both the locals and the students took to the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway and were chasing and counter chasing.

Injured Al Jaber Mahmud, a student of Mass Communication and Journalism of the university, said that they went to save the student from the attack of the locals and bus staffers.

Then, people launched an attack on them, he added

During the clash, the students set several shops and the police box at Binodpur gate on fire.

After that, police rushed to the spot and fired rubber bullets and hurled tear gas. More than 20 students who were injured during this time were sent to RMCH at around 11 pm.

Injured Al Jaber Mahmud, a student of Mass Communication and Journalism of the university, said that they went to save the student from the attack of the locals and bus staffers.

Then, people launched an attack on them, he added.

In this regard, RU Proctor Professor Asabul Haque said: 'We are trying to control the situation. Law enforcement is also working right now."

Platoon 7 of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) has been deployed in the Binodpur area.

Meanwhile, some agitating students went to the fine arts faculty area to blockade the Rajshahi-Dhaka rail line. Dhaka-bound Dhumketu Express did not leave Rajshahi station which was scheduled at 11.20 pm.

Also, the university authority suspended all classes and exams for the next two days following the clash.