Dec 23, 2019
Nurul has been undergoing treatment at DMCH after he and his associates came under attack at the DUCSU office on Sunday. Photo: Prothom Alo
Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) vice president Nurul Haque said Sunday’s attack on him and his friends is an unprecedent event.“Senior level leaders directly carried out the attack, which we had never seen in the past. It seems they wanted to kill me,” said the DUCSU VP while speaking to Prothom Alo at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) on Sunday night.
“Earlier, junior leaders and activists carried out such attacks. But this time Dhaka University Chhatra League unit president directly pushed me. Several central vice presidents were also in an attacking mood,” he added.
Nurul has been undergoing treatment at DMCH after he and his associates came under attack at the DUCSU office on Sunday. The activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Muktijuddha Mancha allegedly carried out the attack on them.
He also alleged that BCL leaders entered his room three times and attacked him time and again until he was injured.
Asked about the reason behind the attack, Nurul said they had organised a programme protesting the Indian Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC) on 17 December.
He said there was an altercation on that day and an attack was carried out on 18 December. In sequel to these incidents, the Sunday’s attack was carried out, he said.
According to Nurul, a member of Muktijodha Mancha told him over phone that they had been instructed to target him first. At least his hands and legs should be broken, was the instruction.
Nurul said his condition would have been more critical if there had not been a table. He was not injured critically as he kept his head under the table.
He also said they recently demonstrated against the price hike of onion, corruption and looting, but they did not come under attacks at that time.
“We came under the attack for protesting CAA and NRC,” he said.
Nurul said they had a programme protesting CAA and NRC on 17 December. DU unit BCL general secretary and DUCSU assistant general secretary Saddam Hossain opposed the programme.
“What is the necessity of talking on NRC? It is a matter of senior leaders. You will not talk about this,” Nurul quoted Saddam Hossain as saying.
About the repeated attacks, Nurul said, “Political parties are now cornered. We are not a political party. We are no organisation. The government is considering us as a big force which can influence the students. The political parties remain silent over the recent incidents. But we are talking now.”
Nurul said, “Even if any political party talks, the people have no trust on them. They think the party has a political motive. But we have no that type of motive. So people believe us.”
Asked about filing cases after being attacked so many times, Nurul said he went to Shahbagh police station to file a case after the attack on 18 December.
“Police asked me to file the complaint,” he said.
Earlier, when he came under an attack in Bogura, local leaders went to the police station but the complaint was not taken.
Nurul was also attacked at SM Hall of Dhaka University. The university authorities had said steps would be taken, but in reality nothing happened.
“We are in such a situation, if we go to Ganabhaban, we have no fault. We will be held guilty if we go to the programme of Gono Forum. We are also guilty if we attend a programme of ASM Abdur Rab. Awami League thinks, we will keep relations with them alone. We cannot have relations with any other organisations,” Nurul said.
When asked about the future, Nurul said, “We will continue the protests despite the attacks. We will protest against injustice, corruption, looting, absence of democracy and autocracy.”
The DUCSU VP said, “Student organisations abstain from protesting the injustice due to blindness to the party and association with the mainstream politics.”
Nurul said, “We have started protesting. We have no political platform. We will not work for any political platform. We will criticise all parties.”
*This report has been rewritten in English by Rabiul Islam.
