Leaders of new student organisation attacked 'by BCL members'

Leaders of Democratic Students' Force (DSF), a students' organisation that was launched today, suffered injuries in an attack carried out allegedly by a BCL group on the Dhaka University campus this afternoon.

Eyewitnesses said the attack took place around 1:20pm near the Teacher Student Centre (TSC) when DSF Convener Aktar Hossain was leaving the campus on a rickshaw after launching the new organisation.

Aktar was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for primary treatment, said Asif Mahmud, convener of the DU unit of Democratic Students' Force.

Six other leaders -- Lutfur Rahman, Faysal Hasan, Nishita Jaman, Rahnuma Hridy, Sadia Islam and Asadulla – were also injured in the attack.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists denied the allegation.

The DSF leaders claimed that Rasheduzzaman Ronny, BCL vice president of DU Jashim Uddin Hall, was among the attackers.

Ronny is a follower of Tanbir Hasan Shaikat, general secretary of BCL DU unit.

Asif said the DSF members were supposed to hold a press conference at Madhur Canteen to launch the organisation, but BCL members barred them from doing so.

Then, DSF held a press conference in front of Ducsu Bhaban to launch the new organisation, Asif added.

Contacted, BCL leader Tanbir said, "No leaders and activists were involved with the attack. We are not aware of it."

Rasheduzzaman Rony told The Daily Star that he was not even near TSC when the incident happened, and does not know why his name has come up.

The new organisation has been formed by a group of former leaders and activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad, who resigned from the organisation few months ago.

Aktar, former vice president of Chhatra Odhiker Parishad, and its former member secretary Nahid Islam, launched the organisation.