Rajshahi University students protest assault by student leaders at central library
Students at Rajshahi University gathered in front of the central library on Wednesday to protest the recent assault of three fellow students. The demonstration, organized under the banner of "Rajshahi University Students," followed an incident in which RAKSU General Secretary Salauddin Ammar and leaders of the student organization Islami Chhatra Shibir allegedly attacked students inside the university library.
The protest drew support from senior leaders of the Rajshahi University branch of Jatiyotabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), including branch president Sultan Ahmed. While JCD leaders were present to show solidarity, they emphasized that the protest was a grassroots movement initiated by the general student body.
The protesters issued a five-point list of demands, calling for the arrest and permanent expulsion of the perpetrators within 10 days. The list also includes the immediate removal of all involved RAKSU representatives from their positions, a transparent and expedited investigation by the proctor’s office into the incident, a formal inquiry into allegations involving a female student, and a firm commitment from the university administration to ensure a safe, violence-free campus environment.
During the demonstration, participants criticized what they described as the prioritization of partisan political agendas over the welfare of the general student population. Speakers invoked the spirit of the July student-led movement, arguing that the campus is sliding back into repressive political practices. Shibli Ahmed, a student from the Department of Population Science and Human Resource Development, accused campus factions of reviving “tagging politics,” which he argued is systematically deteriorating the university's academic atmosphere.
Tensions escalated as speakers highlighted the irony of a student representative—elected to serve the campus—allegedly participating in physical violence. JCD organizational secretary Mahmudul Hasan alleged that the assailants utilized tools to carry out the attack, framing the incident as an extension of the ideological conflicts that have historically divided the nation.
Sultan Ahmed, president of the university’s Chhatra Dal branch, condemned the incident as a "militant-style" assault and expressed concern over the RAKSU Vice President’s recent intimidation of journalists. He urged the media to remain steadfast in their reporting and reiterated JCD’s commitment to supporting the students' pursuit of justice and campus safety.
