‘BCL men’ beat up journo at Jahangirnagar University

A journalist was beaten up allegedly by some Chattra League activists at Jahangirnagar University's Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall early yesterday. 

The incident took place on the ground floor of the hall around 2:00am. The attackers are resident students of the hall and known to be followers of the general secretary of JU Chhatra League, Habibur Rahman Liton.

The victim, Asif Al Mamun, is the campus correspondent of United News of Bangladesh (UNB) and a student of journalism and media studies. He has filed a written complaint to the hall provost accusing five BCL men.

According to university sources, some BCL men were having discussion in the guest room of the hall after attending a candle lighting programme around 2:00am protesting the August 21 grenade attack. At that time Asif and Amartya Roy, a 47th batch student of archeology department, were having tea at a shop inside the hall. 

At one stage, the BCL men suspected that someone was filming them from outside and started shouting "thief", "thief". 

Hearing shouts, Asif and Amartya ran towards the field of the hall. The BCL men caught Asif and beat him up.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Asif said, "Some thefts of bicycles and other items occurred at the hall. So I went to the field after hearing shouts of 'thief', 'thief'. They beat me up even after I identified myself as a journalist and a resident of the hall.

"They asked me if I was filming them from outside the guest room. They beat me mercilessly and also verbally abused me," the journalist added.

Asif and Amartya said they identified some of the attackers after watching CCTV footage.

Proctor ASM Firoz Ul Hasan said, "I have asked the hall provost to take immediate action in this regard after conducting an investigation into the incident."

This correspondent could not reach JU Chattra League General Secretary Habibur for comments as he did not answer calls.