Police arrested five people in connection with attacks, vandalism and assault on students near the Chittagong University (CU) railway station.
They were arrested from different areas under the Hathajari police station in the early hours on Tuesday (October 22). All are residents of various localities of Hathajari.
The arrestee are- Ilias Prokash Farooq, 40, son of Idris Sawdagar of Uttor Fotehabad area; Md Suman, 29, son of Muhibul Haque of Dewannagar area; Istiaq Ahmed, 22, son Abdul Malek of Syedpara under Fotehpur union; Md Rashed, 30, son of Amir Hamza of the union; and Abu Taher, 55, son of Saleh Ahmed of Pubo Vobanipur.
Superintendent of Police (SP) of Chattogram Raihan Uddin Khan confirmed the matter. He said a case was filed with Hathajari police station over Monday’s incident agaisnt 25-30 people. Police arrested five of them. The efforts are ongoing to nab the remaining suspects.
He added that additional police forces have been deployed around Chittagong University to ensure law and order in the aftermath of the incident.
Earlier, in the early hours on Monday, Chhatra League and Jubo League members carried out an armed attack on students at Chittagong University, leaving five students of the university injured.
The clash took place over the encroachment of a shop adjacent to Chittagong University railway station.
Witnesses said that Chhatra League and Jubo League activists first attacked a shop called ‘Apayayan’ near the university’s railway gate. They then vandalised several other nearby shops and fired a few rounds, causing panic among students and locals.
Upon hearing the news, students gathered in protest at the Zero Point area of the campus. They marched to the Railgate area and Jubo League activists threw crude bombs and fired bullets on them, leaving some students injured.
Professor Dr Tanvir Mohammad Haidar Arif, proctor of Chittagong University; said that the attack was carried out to destabilize the university and the government.
According to the students, the supporters of Jubo League leader Mohammad Hanif of Hathazari Upazila came to the area to occupy a shop. Hanif illegally occupied the railway space at the university railway station and built a shop for rent. His younger brother and Chhatra League leader Iqbal deals in WiFi throughout the campus and surrounding areas.
According to locals and some students, the control of some shops adjacent to the university station was under the control of Hanif. These shops are located at the railway station. Those who used to shop in this place used to pay Hanif regularly. He left the area after the fall of the government on August 5. However, he did not give up control of the store.
