At least five people, including a principal and several teachers, were injured in an alleged attack by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leaders and activists at a college in Rajshahi’s Durgapur upazila during an ongoing examination.
The incident occurred at around 14:30 on Thursday at Daokandi Government University College, where the 2024 second-year degree examination was underway. Section 144 had been imposed within a 100-yard radius of the campus, and police were deployed at the centre.
According to witnesses and teachers, around 40 to 50 BNP leaders and activists entered the college premises in violation of the restrictions and went to the principal’s office. The group was led by Akbar Ali, vice-president of Jayanagar Union BNP. An argument reportedly broke out over allegations of corruption and financial irregularities.
The situation escalated into violence, during which teachers were allegedly assaulted and the college office vandalised. A video of the incident, which has circulated widely on social media, shows a man identified as Akbar Ali striking lecturer Aleya Khatun Hira with a shoe.
Those injured include Principal Dr Md Abdur Razzaque, lecturer Aleya Khatun Hira, Professor Rezaul Karim Alam, and two other staff members. They were taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where the principal and Hira were reported to be in critical condition.
The attack caused panic among examinees, with some students and teachers leaving examination halls in fear.
Teachers alleged that police officers, including the officer-in-charge of Durgapur Police Station, were present during the incident but failed to intervene effectively.
The injured teachers identified several alleged attackers, including Akbar Ali, Afaz Ali, Shahadat Ali, Zainal Ali, Ezdar Ali, Rustam Ali and Jaminur Islam Joy, along with other activists of BNP and its affiliated organisations.
Principal Abdur Razzaque said that since assuming office under a government order, he had faced repeated demands for large sums of money from different BNP factions, which he described as extortion. He said he did not personally know most of those involved.
Lecturer Aleya Khatun Hira said BNP activists had frequently visited the college demanding financial accounts, which she claimed were attempts at extortion. She said the attack followed the principal’s refusal to comply, adding that supporting him had made her a target.
A local BNP leader rejected the allegations, saying the dispute stemmed from alleged irregularities during the tenure of a former principal linked to the Awami League. He claimed repeated demands for financial transparency were ignored and alleged that Hira initiated the confrontation by slapping some activists, leading to the violence.
The accused, Akbar Ali, was later expelled from the party, according to a press release issued on Friday morning and signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi.
Durgapur Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Rafiqul Islam said police had attempted to defuse tensions through discussions before the incident. However, he said some individuals unlawfully entered the campus and carried out the attack and vandalism despite police presence.
He added that legal action would be taken once a formal complaint is received.
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