20 IU officials sued, two suspended

Two cases have been filed against 20 officials of Islamic University (IU) in connection with Wednesday's attack on a human chain on the campus.

Of the cases, one was filed by IU acting Registrar Abdul Latif and the other by Deputy Registrar Harunur Rashid on Wednesday night, said Shonit Kumar Gayan, officer-in-charge of Islamic University Police Station.

The university authorities also formed a body, headed by Prof Ruhul KM Saleh, to probe the incident.

The committee was asked to submit report within seven working days, said university sources.

On Wednesday morning, at least 15 teachers and officers of the university were injured in an attack by opponents during a human chain on the campus.

Each of the university's pro-Awami League (AL) teachers and officers' organisation Bangabandhu Parishad and teachers' organization Shapla Forum are divided into two groups, campus sources said.

They have been demonstrating since April 1, one faction demanding removal of IU Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Abdul Hakim Sarker and the other demanding the same for Pro-VC Prof Dr Shahinoor Rahman, alleging corruption and irregularities against the two key persons of the university, they said.

The faction belonging to the VC announced a human chain programme at the campus on Wednesday, demanding removal of the pro-VC, apparently as counter of the other faction's similar programme demanding the VC's removal on Tuesday.

Around 11:00:am, over two hundred teachers and officers, demonstrating under the banners of Bangabandhu Parishad and Shapla Forum in front of the IU's administrative building, came under attack by intruders carrying firearms, sharp weapons and bamboo sticks, witnesses said.

The attackers mercilessly beat up and hurled brickbats on the demonstrating teachers and officers, leaving 15 injured.

Meanwhile, the VC yesterday suspended assistant registrars Alamgir Hossain Khan and Abdul Hannan for their involvement in the attack on the human chain.