Jahangirnagar University shuts down, 20 injured in BCL attack

Jahangirnagar University (JU) has been closed down for an indefinite period after the ruling party's student wing attacked the protesting teachers and students today, leaving at least 20 injured.

The students have been asked to leave the dormitories by 5:30pm which the protesters have refused to abide by and vowed to continue their movement.

Following an emergency meeting, presided over by Vice-Chancellor Professor Farzana Islam, held at the new administration building of the institution on Tuesday afternoon, JU made the announcement.

Earlier, 100 JU Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) unit leaders and activists led by their President Jewel Rana swooped on the students, teachers and journalists around noon and dispersed them from in front of the vice chancellor's residence where she remained confined since early Tuesday.

At least 20 teachers, students and journalists were injured in the attack.

Extra law enforcing agency members have been deployed in and around the campus to avoid any untoward incident.

"You have shut down the university but can you stop the protest? You are a corrupt VC. Resign now," JU Samajtantrik Chhatra Front unit President Mahathir Mohammad told The Business Standard.

Acting Proctor A S M Firoz Ul Hasan said: "There was an angry crowd at the scene of protest, and we failed to bring them under control."

Professor Tareq Reza of JU Bangla department, also one of the protesting teachers, told The Business Standard that among the injured, eight were teachers of the institution, three were journalists and the rest were students of the university.

The spokesperson of the demonstrators Prof Rayhan Raine said: "Supporters of the vice-chancellor sent Chhatra League men to attack us."

"Many protestors were injured as the Chhatra League men attacked and assaulted us. We strongly condemn this attack. No administration can stay by force. We demand the government remove the vice-chancellor immediately."

However, Jewel said the students who are protesting against the vice-chancellor are Jamaat-e-Islami's student wing Shibir's activists and that is why they were dispersed. 

JU Assistant Proctor Mohibur Rouf Shaibal, on October 30, assaulted Nazir Amin Chowdhury Joy, Communist Party's student wing Chhatra Union JU unit president, in front of the Old Arts and Humanities building at 1pm.
 
Meanwhile, Professor Farzana, while briefing the media this afternoon, alleged that the protesting students and teachers who have been demanding her resignation are affiliated with Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and Shibir.
 
The students were injured in an internal clash claimed Farzana. 
 
"The way they verbally abused our female teachers is shocking," she said.
 
JU teachers and the students started protests on August 23 demanding a judicial inquiry into the reported involvement of Farzana and her family in corruption and mismanagement of Tk 1,445 crore for development projects on the campus.

They have also been observing strike since November 25 demanding resignation of Professor Farzana for her alleged involvement in financial corruption. The protesters have also vowed not to call off their movement until their demands are met.

Classes and examinations at different departments were not held since then.
 
To support Farzana teachers' organisation "Jahangirnagar for Development and against Injustice" arranges human chain and rally every day on the campus. The BCL leaders and activists also back the vice-chancellor.

Meanwhile, JU Teacher's Asociation (JUTA) General Secretary Professor
Sohel Rana and another three members of JUTA executive body have resigned, protesting the attack on teachers and students.

"VC Tumi Vege Jao" (VC you must resign) with this slogan, former JU students organised a rally at Shabagh condemning the attack on the protestors and demanding the immediate resignation of the vice-chancellor. 

Professor Anu Muhammad, Dr Tanzim Uddin Khan, political leader Zonayed Saki, journalist Faruque Wasif, and JU senate member Barrister Shihab Uddin Khan expressed solidarity with them.