DU probe finds involvement of five Chhatra Dal activists in attack on journalists

A Dhaka University investigation committee has found the involvement of five Chhatra Dal leaders and activists in an attack on members of the Dhaka University Journalists Association at Shahbagh Police Station.

The committee submitted its report to the university administration on Tuesday afternoon, more than five months after the incident. The report was originally supposed to be submitted within three working days of the incident.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr ABM Obaidul Islam confirmed the submission of the report. He said the university would take action based on the committee’s recommendations at the next Syndicate meeting.

On April 23, a group of Chhatra Dal leaders and activists allegedly attacked journalists while they were carrying out their professional duties at Shahbagh Police Station. At least 10 journalists were injured in the incident.

Following the attack, the university administration formed an investigation committee headed by Assistant Proctor Mahbub Kaisar.

According to university sources, the committee examined the incident and identified those involved. The journalists’ association had previously said that between 30 and 40 Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were involved, but the investigation committee identified five people.

The university administration has not publicly disclosed the names and identities of those identified in the report.

Later in the afternoon, representatives of the Dhaka University Journalists Association met the vice-chancellor at his office. Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, association president Md Manzur Hossain Mahi said they were relieved to see the investigation report submitted nearly five months after the attack.

“We saw today that the investigation committee formed by the university administration has submitted its report nearly five months after the attack on us. We believe the committee may have submitted the report because of the pressure created by the nationwide reaction following the attack on journalists at Rajshahi University.”

Asked why the investigation had taken more than five months, association general secretary Liton Islam said the committee had cited the need to take statements from and coordinate with multiple parties, but the journalists believed the administration lacked sufficient initiative and goodwill.

“If the administration had taken action from the beginning, the investigation and justice could have been completed within one to one and a half months. If the attack on journalists at Dhaka University had been addressed quickly, no one would have had the courage to carry out similar attacks on journalists at other universities.”

He said the Dhaka University administration could not avoid responsibility for what he described as a culture of impunity.