‘Action against journalists’ over banned- Chhatra League coverage: Rucsu VP

Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (Rucsu) Vice-President Mostakur Rahman Zahid yesterday (28 July) warned of taking action against journalists who, he alleged, had shown sympathy towards the banned Chhatra League in their reports on the 27 July incident.

"We will identify those journalists and take action against them," Zahid said at a press conference held at the Rucsu office around 7:30pm.

The press conference followed the 27 July incident, when several students, including a former Chhatra League activist, allegedly entered the Rucsu office, according to the organisers.

Objecting to the language used in media reports, Zahid said some journalists had portrayed the incident as an attack by Rucsu activists.

"You said we carried out an attack. They attacked us; we resisted. Why are you so reluctant to use the word 'attack' for them?" he said.

He also criticised media reports that stated students studying at the university's central library were forced to leave during the incident.

"No student complained to us that we wasted 20 to 25 minutes of their study time. Journalists are exaggerating the issue," he said.

Rucsu General Secretary Salauddin Ammar, among others, was present at the press conference.

Rucsu also announced six demands, including legal action against those accused of threatening a female student; the arrest and prosecution of those involved in attacks at the Rucsu building and on students; an investigation into alleged administrative negligence during the incident; effective measures to curb campus violence and political misuse; ensuring students' safety; and bringing to justice those allegedly involved in past acts of violence and linked to Chhatra League.

On 27 July, Rucsu and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists allegedly beat three students at the university's central library and the proctor's office after accusing them of being Chhatra League activists.