A case has been lodged with Jhenaidah police station on Saturday following the assault of a bus driver of Islamic University in Kushtia.

IU acting registrar Professor M Manjurul Haque filed the case with the police station against 20 to 30 unnamed persons in this connection, said Jhenaidah police station officer-in-charge Abdullah Al Mamun.

According to the case statement, an IU bus, named Kuhelika (registration: Kushtia-S 11-0002), traveling from Kushtia to Jhenaidah, was forcibly stopped by a group of men near the Srijoni fuel pump at Arappur Bus Stand in the district around 9pm on Friday.

A man boarded the bus and began physically attacking the driver throwing kicks and punches, while others surrounded the vehicle and joined in the assault, leaving the bus driver Mahfuzur Rahman Polton critically injured on the spot.

Eventually, local residents and staff from nearby hotels intervened to prevent further violence, helping to rescue Polton from the attackers. During the confrontation, the assailants reportedly issued threats, warning that any future IU-operated buses entering Jhenaidah would be vandalized or blocked.

Polton was subsequently admitted to Jhenaidah Sadar Hospital for medical treatment.

In a statement, he recounted the harrowing experience, saying, "While driving to Jhenaidah, my bus was forcibly stopped. A man climbed on board and started hitting me. Others joined in, and I eventually lost consciousness inside the bus."

In response, IU acting registrar Professor Dr. Manjurul Haque said, "The complaint has been officially filed with the Jhenaidah Police. The university’s transport department is conducting its own internal investigation to determine the motive behind the attack and ensure the safety of its personnel."