RU ward quota protests: Scuffle breaks out between students and teachers, staffers

An altercation broke out today between students of Rajshahi University and its teachers, officials, and employees over a demand to abolish the ward quota.

Around 2:30pm today, students set tyres on fire in front of the university's administrative building.

Later, around 3:30 pm, they surrounded VC Saleh Hasan Naqib's residence. At that time, they also blocked the Pro-VC Prof Mohammad Main Uddin's car.

Following that, students locked Prof Main's residence, preventing him from entering his home.

At 4:30pm when Main and Proctor Mahbubur Rahman tried to enter a building, they faced obstruction again.

The altercation broke out between the two groups at the time.

Several students, including some journalists, were injured in the incident.

At present, students and the Pro-VC remain face-to-face inside the Juberi Building.

Proctor Mahbubur said, "Demanding the cancellation of the Ward Quota, the students locked the pro-vice-chancellor inside his residence."

"In the midst of the scuffle, my watch and Tk 10,000 I had with me were lost."

On Friday afternoon, a section of students started a hunger strike at the university's Zoha Square over the same demand.

However, a meeting of administrative officials regarding the scuffle was ongoing at the vice-chancellor's residence as of 9:00pm when this report was filed.