Chattra League leaders and activists on Friday attacked the car of Dhaka University Vice-chancellor (VC) AAMS Arefin Siddique and vandalised it.

A police sub-inspector (SI) who was on duty for the security of the Vice-chancellor was injured in the attack. The VC remained unhurt but Chattra League activists dishonoured him throwing shoe at him.

The incident occurred in front of the gate of the VC’s residence at about 2:30pm.

Witnesses said, Leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student associate body of Awami League, burst into protests on Friday morning as the university’s souvenir book published marking its 95th founding anniversary mentioned Ziaur Rahman as Bangladesh’s first president.

As part of the founding anniversary programme, a discussion meeting started at about 11:00am at TSC auditorium with Vice Chancellor AASM Arefin Siddique in the chair.

When copies of the souvenir book were distributed among the guests, students, including some BCL leaders, turned furious as Ziaur Rahman was mentioned as the 1st president of Bangladesh in it.

Acting registrar Syed Rezaur Rahman wrote the article while introducing Ziaur Rahman Hall in the souvenir.

The souvenir also mentioned ‘Jagannath Hall’ of the university as a residential hall of the students of minority groups. 

Knowing the matter, the VC confiscated the souvenir book and said to form a committee for investigation.

Meanwhile, the agitated students confined the acting registrar of the university to his office and torched a copy of the souvenir book in front of it.

The university proctor rushed to the spot and rescued the acting registrar.

Later, BCL central committee and DU unit leaders and activists carried a procession towards the residence of the VC and demanded his resignation.

While the car of the VC came in front of his residence, agitated leaders and activists attacked the car and vandalised it. At that time journalists of the university managed to protect the VC and helped him to find his way to his residence.

Dhaka University Chattra League General Secretary Motahar Hossain Prince said, ‘The agitated activists attacked the Vice-chancellor as Ziaur Rahman was mentioned as the first president of Bangladesh in the souvenir. But we protected and helped him enter his residence.’