Ammar Denies Being Beaten by Chhatra League Activists: ‘We Weren’t Beaten — We Did the Beating’

❐ Campus Correspondent

After several clashes at Rajshahi University (RU) over an allegation of sexual assault, Salahuddin Ammar, General Secretary (GS) of the Central Students’ Union (RAKSU), claimed that they were not beaten, but rather beaten.

He said, “Many are spreading the news that we were beaten or injured by the Chhatra League. But we didn’t take bribes, we gave bribes. There was no benefit in handing over the law to the administration.”

Today, Monday, July 27, from noon to afternoon, several clashes and scuffles took place in the university’s proctor’s office, Raksu Bhaban and central library areas. During this time, Raksu GS Salahuddin Ammar and leaders and activists of the terrorist organization Shibir have been accused of entering the reading room of the central library and beating up some students with Chhatra League tags. Several people from both sides were injured in this.

According to university administration sources, on Sunday, a student of the Sanskrit department accused Mohsin Alam, a senior student of the same department, of threatening her for rejecting her love proposal. A meeting was held that night in the presence of Proctor Professor Mahbubur Rahman. There, students of the Islamic History and Culture Department, Anas, Hasib and Mahmudul Hasan of the Sanskrit department, who were with the accused, denied the allegations.

A meeting was called again on Monday afternoon regarding the matter. There, Raksur General Secretary (GS) Salahuddin Ammar and other leaders tagged Anas as a Chhatra League worker. They also claimed that pictures of him with some Chhatra League leaders were found on his mobile phone. After that, there were allegations of Anas being beaten up in the proctor’s office. Later, when the proctor handled the situation, the people concerned left from there.

Shortly after this, around 3 pm, Anas, Hasib, Mahmudul and some others went to the Raksu building. At that time, a scuffle broke out there and Raksu GS Salauddin Ammar and Information and Research Editor BM Nazmus Shakib were severely beaten, according to Raksu.

Later, both sides took positions in front of the central library. According to eyewitnesses, there was an argument between the two sides at first. When the situation became heated, the proctor took some students to the library’s reading room. After a while, some leaders of the terrorist organization Shibir, including Raksu GS Ammar, entered the reading room and beat up Anas, Hasib and Mahmudul. It is alleged that when some of the other students in the reading room tried to stop them, they were also attacked.

Later, the proctorial body, police and the students present brought the situation under control. An injured student was rescued and sent to the hospital. However, witnesses said that the seriously injured Mahmudul Hasan was beaten again while being taken to the hospital. After that, the leaders and activists of the terrorist organization Shibir took a position in front of the vice-chancellor’s office demanding justice for the Chhatra League.

Accused Chhatra League leader Anas said that he was beaten up with Chhatra League tags in the proctor’s office. Later, he was also attacked in the library. He claims that he is not a Chhatra League worker. Although he has been photographed with friends associated with Chhatra League politics in the past, he has never been involved in the organization’s banner or programs.

Mehedi Hasan, general secretary of the university branch of Shibir, claimed that no one from his organization was involved in the incident. They went there after receiving news of the attack on Raksu leaders. However, when asked about the fact that Shibir’s terrorist leaders were seen in the video of the attack, he did not comment.

The campus representative spoke to Raksur GS Salahuddin Ammar, a notorious armed terror and mobster at Rajshahi University, regarding this matter.

He said, after arresting the accused Chhatra League leader, the police took him to Joha Square and released him. After I sat in the office, that boy went and attacked me. The university administration has brought us to this situation without taking any decision regarding Chhatra League for 2 years. The responsibility for this must be given to the law and administration of this country. One of our editors was seriously injured in the Raksu office. They suddenly attacked us. There were 7 of them and we were 3.

He further said, “I see everyone campaigning, many are saying we were beaten or injured, but we didn’t take it, we gave it. There was no benefit in handing over the law to the administration.”

Sultan Ahmed Rahi, president of the university branch of the Bangladesh Chhatra Dal, said, “A personal dispute has been given a political form. Condemning the attack on an educational institution like the central library, he demanded administrative action against those involved.”

Regarding the overall issue, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Faridul Islam said, ‘We will quickly verify the information through the Fact Finding Committee and take action according to the prevailing laws of the country. A high-level investigation committee will be formed in coordination with the police administration. We will decide on the next steps today.’