Rajshahi University teacher group denounces rising mob violence and vigilante actions by student leaders

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The Rajshahi University Teachers’ Network has expressed grave concern over a series of alleged unlawful activities involving the General Secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU), Salauddin Ammar, and activists associated with Islami Chhatra Shibir. The faculty group formally demanded that university authorities and law enforcement take immediate legal action against those responsible for orchestrating violence and harassment on campus.

In a statement released Wednesday and submitted to the university’s Vice-Chancellor, the network highlighted a violent incident occurring last Monday, in which three students were subjected to repeated physical assaults. Following the attacks, two of the injured students were arrested and sent to jail under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Faculty members characterized the incident not as an isolated conflict, but as a systematic breakdown of the rule of law and the academic environment within the university.

The teachers’ collective documented several instances of aggression, including assaults occurring at the proctor’s office, the central library, and even the forcible removal of a victim from an ambulance to facilitate further beatings. They argued that such vigilante justice—conducted under the guise of political identification or “tagging”—echoes the culture of intimidation seen during the previous regime. The network emphasized that no student organization possesses the legal authority to act as judge, jury, and executioner, warning that allowing such groups to assume law enforcement responsibilities creates a dangerous precedent.

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The statement further criticized the conduct of Salauddin Ammar, noting that the RUCSU leadership has been linked to a pattern of provocative behavior since taking office. According to the teachers, these actions include the unauthorized gherao of administrative buildings, the harassment of faculty members, and the obstruction of administrative functions at the Vice-Chancellor’s office.

Additionally, the teachers’ network alleged that the RUCSU leadership has played an inflammatory role in broader public disturbances, including leading patrols during anti-narcotics drives, harassing the university’s former Pro-Vice-Chancellor during student protests, and encouraging hostility toward media outlets. The network underscored that the mandate of RUCSU is to advocate for student rights and improve the educational environment, rather than fostering a climate of fear through political coercion and mob justice.