Female student harassed, students of Jashore University of Science and Technology clash with locals
Locals stage protests, set fire on the road
Repeated clashes have broken out between students of Jashore University of Science and Technology (JUST) and local residents after a female student of the university allegedly got harassed by a local shopkeeper.
The incidents took place from around 7pm on Tuesday, on the road in front of the university, in the Ambattola area of the Jashore–Chougachha road.
The situation came under control after law enforcement arrived at the scene. According to the university administration, at least five students were injured in the hour-long, sporadic clashes.
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The university administration and police said a female JUST student went to a photocopy shop at the Ambattola junction in front of the campus on Tuesday evening. The shopkeeper harassed the student. Angered, several JUST students then assaulted the shopkeeper. Later, shopkeepers in the area became agitated and clashed with the students. Both sides threw bricks and stones at each other. At least five students were injured.
After the students returned to the campus, locals set fire to tyres and benches on the road in front of the campus in protest. This caused severe traffic congestion on the road. The situation was brought under control when police from the local outpost, Kotwali Model Police Station, and army personnel arrived.
JUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdul Majid said, "Locals have attacked the students. I have heard that at least five students were injured. It is not possible at this moment to say whether anyone is critically injured. As the university administration could not bring the situation under control, we later called in the army, the police and local political leaders. The situation is now largely under control." He said the matter is being investigated to determine what exactly led to the incident.
Jashore Kotwali Model Police Station's OC (Investigation) Kazi Babul Hossain said at around 8.30pm, "The situation has come under control due to the intervention of law enforcement. The number of injured cannot be stated right now. Further details will be given later."
