CU Correspondent
A dispute over seating arrangements led to a clash at Chittagong University (CU) that left Proctor Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy, Assistant Proctor Nurul Hamid Kanon and Ulfatur Rahman Rakib, chief organizer of CU’s Jatiya Chatra Shakti unit, injured.
The trouble began on 29 June (Monday) during a screening of the Brazil vs Japan match, organized by the CU unit of Chatra Dal. A student from Brahmanbaria tried to sit near the front but was stopped. When Chatra Dal’s sports secretary held his hand to talk to him, the student pulled his hand away sharply. The sports secretary claimed the student had taken a seat reserved for female viewers and the two got into an argument over it.
Yesterday, following that dispute, a group of students from Brahmanbaria reportedly beat up the sports secretary. During this, one student from Brahmanbaria got stuck inside Shahjalal Hall. He called Ulfatur Rahman Rakib, chief organizer of CU’s Jatiya Chatra Shakti unit, and asked to be taken to the hospital. Rakib, who had just come in from the city, picked him up from the hall and took him to CU Medical Center.
Chatra Dal’s vice president Ahsan Habib then called Rakib, asking why he had taken the student to the hospital. Rakib went to meet him near Shahjalal Hall after getting the call. Once there, Chatra Dal’s sports secretary Al Mamun and several others attacked him. When the proctorial team stepped in to save Rakib, Proctor Hossain Shahid Suhrawardy and Assistant Proctor Nurul Hamid Kanan were also injured in the process. Chatra Shakti leaders later took Rakib to the medical center as well.
Speaking about the attack, Rakib said he had no idea about the earlier clash and had only gone to Shahjalal Hall after his friend Palash Molla called saying he needed to be taken to the hospital. After dropping Palash off at the medical center, he said, Chatra Dal’s vice president Ahsan Habib called asking where he was, and he went looking for Ahsan near the hall to explain in person. That was when Al Mamun rushed at him hurling abuses, grabbed him by the throat, and others joined in to beat him.
He added that he is willing to accept any punishment if he was at fault, but if helping an injured friend get to the hospital was not a crime, he would seek proper action against those who attacked him.