PSTU staff assault 3 newsmen
Question at a view exchange meet evoked their wrath
A few teachers and officials of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) assaulted three journalists yesterday noon, in reaction to a newsman's question regarding appointment of some teachers and staff at the institution.
The victims are Nikhil Chatterjee, Patuakhali correspondent of the daily Sangbad, Amirul Islam, Baufal correspondent of the Daily Ittefaq, and Sohrab Hossain, Patuakhali correspondent of The Daily Star.
At a view exchange meeting presided over by VC Dr Syed Shakhawat Hossain at the auditorium of PSTU yesterday noon, AKM Mostafa Zaman, dean of agriculture faculty, made a power point presentation on the 'success' of the PSTU during the four-year tenure of the vice chancellor.
Registrar Md Nawab Ali was conducting the meeting
Dr Syed Shakhawat Hossain joined as vice chancellor of the university on December 21 in 2008 and his last working day is tomorrow.
Lawmaker from Barguna-1 Dhirendra Devnath Shambhoo, Dumki upazila parishad Chairman Harun-Or-Rashid Howlader, both members of the Regent Board, the highest decision making body of the university, were present, among others, in the meeting.
After his presentation, Mostafa Zaman invited questions from journalists and local elite.
Nikhil Chatterjee asked a question about appointment of some officials and employees during the last seven days.
He also wanted to know about the alleged lack of required qualification of PSTU Registrar Md Nawab Ali.
Before Nikhil concluded his speech, some teachers, officials and employees led by Md Ataur Rahman, a newly appointed section officer, attacked Nikhil. They broke his spectacles and physically assaulted him.
Trying to save Nikhil, Sohrab Hossain and Amirul Islam also faced the attackers' wrath and received minor injuries.
Consequently, all the journalists boycotted the meeting and protested the matter.
Denying the allegation of physically assaulting newsmen, Ataur Rahman said, "We resisted Nikhil Chatterjee when he raised a question, personally aiming at the registrar."
After the incident VC Dr Syed Shakhawat Hossain said, "Nikhil Chatterjee published on his daily much negative news regarding PSTU during my four-year tenure with the bad intention."
There are 427 teachers, officials and employees at PSTU, who were appointed during the last four years, PSTU sources said, quite a few more staffs were appointed during the last one week.
Journalists in Patuakhali district have strongly protested the matter and demanded punishment of the culprits.
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