Several DU students injured as car hits pedestrians on campus

Several students of the Marketing Department at the University of Dhaka were injured after a car struck pedestrians on the campus today (13 October).

The injured students were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the university's medical centre for initial treatment.

The accident occurred around 11:30am on the road in front of the Faculty of Business Studies gate.

The car was being driven by Sadman Sakib, a third-year student at the university's Institute of Information Technology. He is the son of Shahidul Islam, a professor in the university's Department of Mathematics.

According to witnesses, several students were walking along the road while others were standing in front of the faculty gate. The car approached at high speed and hit a student before striking several others standing nearby after the driver apparently lost control.

Following the accident, agitated students assaulted the two people inside the car and vandalised the vehicle. The two were later taken to the proctor's office.

Sadman said he had been test-driving the car when the accident occurred in front of the Faculty of Business Studies. He claimed he had mistakenly pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.

Students from the Marketing Department went to the proctor's office and demanded that the university administration file a case over the incident.

Assistant Proctor Dr Shantu Barua said the injured students had submitted a written request to the proctor's office asking the university administration to file a case with Shahbagh Police Station.

"The proctor's office is also positive about the request," he said.

Dr Shahidul Islam, the driver's father and a teacher at the university's Department of Mathematics, said he would accept whatever decision the university administration made.