Students Form Human Chain at JAKKANIB Demanding Punishment Over Campus Clash

General students of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JAKKANIB) have formed a human chain demanding exemplary punishment for those involved in a clash between two groups of students that erupted over a game.

Students from various departments held the programme in front of the university's administrative building on Wednesday (October 28). They demanded a fair investigation into the incident and that those involved be brought to justice quickly.

At the human chain, the students chanted slogans including 'No place for terrorists on Nazrul's campus', 'We want justice', 'Stop gang culture', 'We want an account of my brother's blood' and 'Our demands must be met'.

On October 14, an argument broke out between the two sides during a tournament at the university's central playground over a ball going outside the boundary. In its wake, tension and clashes later occurred around the Agnibina Hall, the Social Science Faculty building and the Arts Faculty building areas of the university.

It is alleged that in front of the Arts Faculty building, several students of the Management Department attacked students of the English, Public Administration and Fine Arts departments with locally made weapons. Four students of those three departments — Rabiul, Sakib, Rafi and Roman — were seriously injured, according to reports.

Rabiul Islam, a student injured in the incident, said at the human chain: "What had I done, what had happened, that an attempt was made to kill me? That such an incident would happen over just one ball is never acceptable."

Questioning the university administration, he said: "Is there no law at this university? If someone at the university commits a crime, will there be no punishment?" He alleged that Sifat, accused as the mastermind of the clash, and his followers have established a gang culture on the campus. He demanded that those involved be brought to justice to prevent a recurrence of such incidents.

Labib, a student of the 16th batch of the Department of English Language and Literature, said: "If the report is not published within the stipulated time, or if there is an attempt to prolong the investigation, and if those involved in this unprecedented attempted murder and terrorist activities do not get proper justice, we will be forced to launch a tougher movement."

Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Mosharraf Hossain said: "We do not want any delay in this matter. We are talking to the investigation committee and giving them the necessary directions. We want to publish the investigation results very soon. No offender in such an incident will be spared."