BANGLADESH'S STORMY UNIVERSITIES

THE DAILY STAR spoke to many witnesses and students. And here is what they had to say.............................

STUDENTS EAST WEST UNIVERSITY : Around 10am, a group of people aged 25 and above stopped East West University [EWU] students from entering Aftabnagar using the main gate.

We tried to get in via Banasree. We went to the police to ask why we could not get into the university as final exams were going on; they could not provide an answer.

At 11:10 am, we started protesting, asking why students should face difficulty getting into the campus.

At 12: 30 pm, police started firing tear shells on us and some 25-35 men started attacking the students. At that time the university authorities opened the gates and let the students in.

A little later goons  kept trying to get into the campus and started hitting the main gate to break in. Some students to get back at them by throwing bricks. Police fired tear shells from outside into the campus.

By around 1:15 pm, four students were seriously injured. We tried to get an ambulance but failed.  The university authorities did not provide any transport.  Then we arranged three cars  -one belonging to a student and two faculty members.

Some of us saw Bangladesh Chhatra League [BCL] men attack them at the Aftabnagar gate. Police were standing on the footpath just looking. From the second car the attackers  dragged the students  out alongwith the wounded and beat them up.

The students were first taken to  Banasree Farazi Hospital and they did give first aid  but would not admit them. They went to a few other hospitals but the authorities there would not admit them either. They finally managed to admit the wounded to a hospital.

At one point,    the students brought    in an injured  BCL man for the medical attention. Although a couple of students shared their discomfort, most students agreed to help him.

 Our backs were pushed against the wall.

What can we do? Where can we go?  It was a do or die situation for us. After assurance from the VC, students left the campus to go home but we were harassed on the roads both by BCL and police thugs.

Some of the  goons sneered  ''Ekhon bujhchhish Chhatra League ki''   -meaning [Do you understand now what  Chhatra League is?]

The honor and serving of these latest violent happenings in Bangladesh Universities and campuses continues