A clash erupted in Old Dhaka as Bangladesh Nationalist Party leader Shahidul Haque Shahid and his associates allegedly attacked Jagannath University students, injuring at least seven persons on Monday night.
The injured students were undergoing treatment at Dhaka National聽Medical College Hospital, Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford聽Hospital and Dhaka Medical College Hospital on Tuesday.
The incident began on Monday night when JnU鈥檚 mass communication and journalism student Nahid Hasan Samrat accidentally stepped onto a wet slab of concrete at a聽Dholaikhal construction site, sparking an argument with locals.
The dispute escalated into violence and Nahid was assaulted. When two fellow students arrived at the scene to rescue him, they too were attacked by locals.
News of the attack spread on social media, prompting hundreds of JnU students to rush to the site.
In response, locals, allegedly led by BNP Ward 38 general secretary Shahidul, tried to resist the students violently. The violence lasted all night, prompting deployment of police and RAB in the area.
Wari police station officer-in-charge Mostajirur Rahman, said that the clash stemmed from a minor incident.
JnU students, on the other hand, accused Shahidul of orchestrating the attack.
On Tuesday, the students staged demonstrations, including forming a human chain, demanding justice on the campus.
No case was filed till filing of this report on Tuesday afternoon.
The students said that Wari police assured them of taking action if a formal complaint was lodged.
JnU proctor Tazammol Hoque confirmed that they contacted law enforcement agencies immediately after the attack.
He expressed his hope that police would soon bring people responsible for the attack to book.
BNP Dhaka south city has served a show-cause notice on Shahidul Haque Shahid over the attack on students of Jagannath University.
The notice was issued on Tuesday, through an office statement signed by Saidur Rahman Mintu, joint convener of BNP Dhaka south city unit.
Shahidul could not be reached for his comments despite repeated attempts over the phone.