Bangladesh Chhatra League
27 including 2 journalists injured as BCL attacks anti-Modi protesters
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men on Thursday attacked anti-Modi protesters at the Dhaka University (DU) campus following a torch procession by a group under the banner of Progressive Student Alliance against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Dhaka visit.
The incident took place in front of the university's vice-chancellor's house at around 7:45pm. At least 25 protesters and two journalists were injured during the attack.
Prothom Alo's DU correspondent Asif Hawlader came under attack as he went to the university's VC Chattar to gather news.
"I went there to collect news. Suddenly, 10-15 BCL men attacked me. I lost consciousness as they hit me on the head," Asif said. "They also snatched my bag, Tk3,000 and press card."
Also read: BCL men 'beat up' journalist for covering anti-Modi protest
Earlier at 5:30pm, another journalist, Abid Hasan Rasel of Bangla Tribune, came under attack at TSC while performing his professional duties.
"People of Bangladesh," a citizens' platform, arranged a programme named "Jeyafat" at that time protesting Modi's upcoming visit.
As the protesters were about the start their programme, some BCL leaders and activists beat them up, and snatched their banners, the witnesses said.
Abid was at the spot to cover the programme. The BCL men swooped down on Abid as he started recording the video of the BCL attack on protesters.
Also read: Anti-Modi protest: Chhatra Odhikar Parishad burns Indian PM's effigy
The journalist is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka University Medical Centre.
The Socialists Students' Front DU chapter President Salman Siddique said at least 25 protesters were injured by BCL men.
"We were standing in front of the vice-chancellor's house. Suddenly, BCL activists attacked us with bamboo sticks, stamps and bricks," Salman said.
BCL President Al Nahian Khan Joy could not be reached for comments till the filing of this report.
However, BCL General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee said, "The incident is unexpected. We are yet to identify the attackers and will take proper action after finding them."
Also read: 25 injured as BCL swoop on anti-Modi protesters
Earlier, the procession started with 300 protesters from TSC at 6:30pm and ended in front of Ruqayyah Hall.
During the procession, the protesters chanted: "Go back Modi, go back to India," "Butcher of Gujarat, go back to Gujarat," "My name's Felani, Modi's not welcome."
The protesters also demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the BCL activists who carried out an attack on their demonstration on Tuesday, when at least 20 anti-Modi protesters from different left-leaning student bodies and five photojournalists were injured as BCL men carried out an attack on a demonstration against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit on March 26.
BCL men 'beat up' journalist for covering anti-Modi protest
Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men Thursday "attacked" a journalist on the Dhaka University campus as he was covering a protest programme – staged against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bangladesh visit.
The victim was identified as Abid Hasan Russel, the Dhaka University correspondent of Bangla Tribune.
"People of Bangladesh," a citizens' platform, arranged a programme named "Jeyafat" at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) at around 5.30pm.
Also read: Modi visit: Protesters clash with cops at Motijheel; 20 injured
As the protesters were about the start their programme, some BCL leaders and activists beat them up and snatched their banners, the witnesses said.
Abid was at the spot to cover the programme. The BCL men swooped down on Abid as he started recording the video of the BCL attack on protesters.
Also read: Anti-Modi protest: Chhatra Odhikar Parishad burns Indian PM's effigy
The journalist is now undergoing treatment at Dhaka University Medical Centre.
BCL President Al Nahian Khan Joy and General Secretary Lekhak Bhattacharjee could not be reached for comments till the filing of this report.
Anti-Modi protest: Chhatra Odhikar Parishad burns Indian PM's effigy
Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad Wednesday burned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's effigy at Dhaka University campus protesting his upcoming visit to join the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's Independence.
The student body brought out a black flag procession from the Central Shaheed Minar at around 4:30pm and paraded different roads of the campus. The procession ended at the TSC area.
Speaking at the rally, leaders and activists of the organisation labelled Modi as a "communal terrorist" and said a "terrorist" cannot join Bangladesh's Golden Jubilee celebration.
They also protested Tuesday's attack that Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men carried out on anti-Modi protesters at the campus and demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.
Also read: 25 injured as BCL swoop on anti-Modi protesters
Chhatra Odhikar Parishad DU unit General Secretary Akram Hossain led the protest programme.
Bin Yeamin Molla, former Chhatra Odhikar Parishad Dhaka University unit president, said: "India helped us during our Liberation War of 1971. We are grateful to them but we cannot welcome a 'terrorist' like Modi in our great Golden Jubilee celebration."
"We cannot welcome a communal individual like him and will resist him by any means."
Calling on the BCL to stop violence, Yeamin said, "If you do not put an end to using force, students will not accept you anymore."
Also read: Will resist anti-Modi protesters: DU BCL president
Akhter Hossain, DU unit president of the organisation and also former Dhaka University Central Students' Union leader said, "The people of Bangladeshi do not want Modi here. But the ruling party Awami League is desperate to have him in our Golden Jubilee celebration to cling on to state power."
"India is not behaving like a friendly country to us. Bangladesh citizens are being killed every day on the border. India has power and influence over us everywhere."
On Tuesday, at least 20 anti-Modi protesters from different left-leaning student bodies and five photojournalists got injured as some BCL men swooped down on a rally that was protesting Modi's visit to Bangladesh ahead of March 26.
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