RU removes hall provost after attack on journalists, orders 3-day probe

Rajshahi University authorities immediately relieved Professor Mahbubur Rahman, provost of Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall, following protests by journalists over an attack on journalists at the university on Tuesday.

The administration directed the investigation committee to submit its report within three days, by Thursday. Those found responsible will initially face suspension, followed by formal charges, the administration said.

University authorities held talks with protesting students and journalists at around 11pm on Monday. The discussion lasted more than two hours as both sides debated the protesters’ six-point demands.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Faridul Islam later announced the decisions.

“We expect to receive the investigation report within 72 hours. Based on the report, the punishment prescribed under university rules will be ensured. The Syndicate will then be convened to take further action through the proper process. Please have confidence in the decisions we take,” he said.

Faridul said a necessary committee would be formed through the Syndicate and an emergency meeting would be called within 15 days to begin proceedings for permanent expulsion of those found responsible.

Those accused who are no longer students of the university will have their certificates cancelled and be barred from entering the campus, he said.

The administration will also name those identified in the investigation report as accused in the case and submit a charge sheet against them, the vice-chancellor added.

“No one responsible for this incident will be spared. Not only those directly identified, but those who brought the situation to this point by posting on Facebook will also face action,” he said.

The administration will also investigate the repeated locking of the administrative building and take action based on its findings, Faridul said.

Student protester Shah Paran said the administration has accepted some of their demands and provided a roadmap for addressing the remaining ones.

“If the administration works properly, we will cooperate. But if we find any negligence, we will announce further programmes,” he said.

Meanwhile, three journalists’ organisations on the campus have announced a boycott of all administrative programmes until the investigation report is submitted. They said the boycott would continue until the administration takes visible and effective action against those involved in the attack.

Mir Qadir, president of the Rajshahi University Journalists’ Association, said the administration had announced decisions on some of their demands but had sought time to address others.

“We will not cover any administrative news until the investigation report is submitted,” he said.

At least 10 people, including four journalists, were injured in an attack outside Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Hall on Sunday night. According to eyewitnesses and injured journalists, activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal were involved in the attack.

The injured journalists were treated at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Following the incident, the central Chhatra Dal expelled three leaders from their organisational posts for violating discipline and issued show-cause notices to six others, giving them 48 hours to respond.

Earlier on Monday, university journalists and students staged a sit-in outside the administrative building to protest the university administration’s decision to file a case over the attack against unidentified accused rather than naming those allegedly involved.

At one point, the protesters confined Vice-Chancellor Faridul and other university officials inside the building for around 45 minutes before representatives of the students and journalists began talks with the administration.