At least 11 journalists among 12 people were injured in an attack on journalists led by JnU unit Chhatra Shibir at Jagannath University (JnU). Meanwhile, JnU Chhatra Odhikar Parishad President AKM Rakib was injured while trying to rescue the journalists.
The attack took place at the office of the Jagannath University Journalists' Association on Thursday (March 5).
The injured victims were identified as JnU Chhatra Odhikar Parishad President AKM Rakib, Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha JnU correspondent Mahamudur Rahman Nazid, Bangladesh Pratidin JnU correspondent Md. Milon Hossain, Janakantha JnU correspondent Omar Faruk, Daily Jayazaydin JnU correspondent Mizan Uddin Masud, Prothom Alo JnU correspondent Shahadat Hossain, Daily Bartaman JnU correspondent Md. Ariful Islam, Daily Tarunkanth's JnU correspondent Abid Hasan Badhon, Breaking News.com's JnU correspondent Md. Yasin Saif, Bangladesh Guardian's Habibur Rahman, Rupali Bangladesh's JnU correspondent Nafiz Uddin, and Radio Today's JnU Correspondent Abul Hasnat.
The injured journalists complained that they were not included in the voter list of the Jagannath University Journalists Association election. They went to the association office to inquire about their non-inclusion in the voter list. Chhatra Shibir and JnUCSU representatives occupied the office of the Journalists Association and were selling nomination forms for the Jagannath University Journalists Association election. When they asked about the non-inclusion of their names in the final voter list, Shibir's JnUCSU leaders and their ideological journalists attacked them with stamps and sticks.
The injured further complained that they do not know why Shibir should come into the issue of the Journalists' Association. Earlier, several newspapers had reported about the failure of the JnUCSU to get accommodation allowance. This attack was carried out targeting those journalists.
They further complained that the former president and the current president of JnU Shibir stood up and held the elections for the association after August 5. In that election, they excluded all those who do not support JnU Shibir from the voter list. Then they held dummy elections and elected all the 9 posts without any competition and occupied the association.
Injured Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha's JnU correspondent Mahamudur Rahman Najid said, "They were selling nominations by publishing the voter list excluding about 35 of our journalists in the Journalists Association election. When we asked about the reason for not listing our name, they attacked us. During the attack, Chhatra Shibir General Secretary and JnUCSU GS Abdul Alim Arif and Chhatra Shibir Organizing Secretary and JnUCSU Education Secretary Ibrahim Khalil led the attack.
Injured Bangladesh Pratidin journalist Md. Milon Hossain said, "When we went to ask about the non-inclusion of us in the voter list they attacked us with sticks and stamps. They had hidden sticks and stamps in the association's office. I am seriously injured now. They hit me in the chest. I was almost suffocating because I was facing difficulty in breathing."
