Police arrested 13 Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) on Sunday on extortion charges.
Eight of the arrestees were identified as Abdur Rahim Jewel of Department of Journalism and Media Studies, Talha of Mathematics Department, Tanvir of Botany, Ismail and Jabed Sajal of Economics, Robiul of Urban and Regional Planning, and Muhit and Mehedi of Statistics.
Police said the activists of the ruling party’s student wing, led by its JU unit Information and Research Affairs Deputy Secretary Abdur Rahim Jewel, intercepted three passenger buses of ‘Hanif Enterprise’ in front of the university at about 4:30pm demanding compensation for damaging a private car owned by a Rahim’s relative.
The road accident reportedly took place on Dhaka-Rangpur Highway in Sirajganj district on Saturday.
The BCL men also kept the bus staff confined to the guest room of Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall on JU campus to realise their demanded money forcibly.
Being informed, Savar police rushed to the student dormitory and rescued the captive staff. The law enforcers also detained the 13 BCL men.
Police also charged baton on the BCL men when they tried to resist the law enforcers.
In the meantime, JU BCL has suspended Abdur Rahim Jewel for violating organisational rules, according to a press release.
Contacted, JU BCL president Mahmudur Rahman Joni termed the incident ‘personal matter’.
However, JU proctor Prof Tapan Kumar said they were not informed about the arrest by police.
Source: UNBConnect
