Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday foiled a demonstration by the Dhaka University students demanding that the university cancel its affiliation with seven colleges in the capital.

The BCL men also dragged one of the coordinators of the protesters inside the vice-chancellor's office and roughed him up. They also took away his mobile phone and money.

The incident happened around 1:00pm when some 100 students began a sit-in outside the VC office on the campus.

About half an hour later, around 300 BCL activists, led by its central unit President Saifur Rahman Sohag, General Secretary SM Jakir Hossain, DU unit President Abid Al Hasan and General Secretary Motahar Hossain Prince, went to them and urged them to pick a five-member delegation to meet the VC.

The protesters, however, rejected the call and demanded that the VC come to them instead, and announce that the authorities will meet the demand, said witnesses.

The BCL leaders became furious at this and instructed other leaders and activists to gather near the demonstrators. Soon, all the BCL activists, including some females, appeared there. They started to hurl abuses at the female protesters and asked them to leave. At this, most of the female protesters left.

Female Chhatra League activists, led by Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall unit President Benjeer Hossain Nishi, Ruqiayyah Hall unit President BM Lipi Akter, Kuwait Moitri Hall unit President BM Farida Parvin, General Secretarty Srabony Shaila, Sufia Kamal Hall General Secretary Sharjia Shampa, started to assault the girls who did not leave.

Another group of BCL activists, led by Bangabandhu Hall unit General Secretary Al Amin Rahman, harassed two journalists and snatched away their mobile phones as they tried to take footage of the incident, said the witnesses.

Around the same time, some BCL men dragged Moshiur Rahman Sadik, one of the coordinators of the movement, inside the VC office and took his mobile and wallet. They then picked up Sadik. He, however, returned later at night.

Afterwards, the BCL men left the scene. The demonstrators left around 4:30pm.

The entire incident was recorded in cameras of students and journalists. The Daily Star has copies of them.

Contacted, BCL President Sohag denied assaulting or threatening any demonstrator. He claimed they were there "just to resolve the issue".

Asked why such a large number of BCL leaders and activists went there to "resolve" that issue, he said, "They might have gone for academic purposes".

VC Prof Akhtaruzzaman said the demand by the demonstrators was "illogical".

On February 17 last year, the government affiliated Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawardy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College and Government Titumir College with Dhaka University.