The Rajshahi University Central Students' Union (RUCSU) on Tuesday accused the university administration of failing to act promptly over an alleged death threat against a female student and a subsequent attack on the RUCSU office, placing a six-point demand that includes legal and disciplinary action against those responsible.
At a press conference held at the RUCSU office in the evening, Vice-President Mostakur Rahman Jahid alleged that a first-year student of the Department of Sanskrit was threatened by a senior student after rejecting his marriage proposal.
According to the written statement, the student alleged that on July 26, a 2021-22 session student of the same department, identified as Muhsin, threatened her with a knife and said he would throw her into the Padma River after she rejected his proposal. He also allegedly claimed to possess a pistol.
Following the complaint, the university's proctorial body summoned both parties that night.
RUCSU alleged that a man named Anas, who introduced himself as the accused student's guardian, disrupted the inquiry and behaved rudely with the proctor before being asked to leave.
It also claimed that journalists were later threatened with legal action after a video of the incident was published. The student body further alleged that Anas had links with the banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.
According to RUCSU, when both parties were called to the proctor's office again on July 27, the allegations against Muhsin were found to be substantiated. It alleged that Anas again created a tense situation, behaved aggressively with members of the proctorial body and RUCSU leaders, and later admitted to having been involved in Chhatra League politics after his mobile phone was examined in the presence of the proctor.
RUCSU claimed that although police were informed, Anas was released instead of being handed over to law enforcement authorities.
The student body also alleged that Anas, along with Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leader Shafin and their associates, later attacked the RUCSU office, injuring General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar and Information and Research Secretary Nazmus Sakib.
It further claimed that Anas later took shelter in the university's central library reading room, prompting RUCSU leaders, hall union representatives and other students to gather there demanding his arrest.
The organisation alleged that the administration's prolonged inaction further escalated the situation.
RUCSU announced a six-point demand, including immediate legal and disciplinary action against those accused of threatening the female student, arrest and prosecution of those involved in the attack on the RUCSU office, an investigation into alleged negligence by university officials, effective measures to prevent political violence and misuse of political identity on campus, ensuring students' safety, and speedy justice against those allegedly involved in past acts of repression and linked to the banned Chhatra League.
RUCSU leaders said they will not tolerate violence against female students, terrorism or the misuse of political identity on campus, and vowed to continue democratic and lawful programmes to ensure student safety and uphold the rule of law.
In his unscripted remarks, Jahid criticised sections of the media for describing the incident as an attack by RUCSU members, insisting that they had acted in "resistance" rather than carrying out an attack. He also accused some journalists of showing sympathy towards the banned Chhatra League and warned of action over what he described as their role.
General Secretary Salahuddin Ammar claimed that RUCSU repeatedly requested the proctor's office to arrest the accused after the attack on its office but alleged that no action was taken for 20 to 25 minutes, allowing the situation to deteriorate further.