Describing the attack on his residence as an attempt on his life, Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman says the perpetrators’ aim was to destabilise the country.
“I do not think students (of the university) were involved in the attack. They were trained people in masks, who came to kill me,” he told a media briefing on Monday.
Amid clashes between police and quota protesters, a group of demonstrators barged in to the vice-chancellor’s residence around 1:45am, before vandalising furniture and home appliances. They also set fire and damaged vehicles parked inside the premises.
“The attackers took away the CCTV camera and the hard drive, storing footages, in a clear attempt to destroy evidence. They have damaged everything of the residence,” said the vice-chancellor.
Describing the attack, he said, “Around 1am, when I came to tell the students that the government is actively considering their demand, me and my family were attacked by men armed with iron rods…It was an attempt on my life.”
Replying to a query, the vice-chancellor said that the government will initiate legal procedures over the attack as the “VC and the VC’s residence is government’s property”.
Detective Branch Additional Commissioner Debdas Bhattacharya said they have initiated the process to start a case over the attack.
Scores have been injured as police clashed with students and job-seekers demanding reforms to the quotas in public service turning the Dhaka University campus and the capital’s key intersection of Shahbagh into a battleground.
Running battles between protesters and police continued until the early hours of Monday at several locations of the campus.
Ruling Awami League’s Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak arrived at the scene around 1:15am and told the protesters that the prime minister was aware of the issue.
He said General Secretary Obaidul Quader would sit with the protesters at 11am on Monday at Hasina’s behest and asked the demonstrators to choose a place for the meeting.
The protests, however, continued as his comments failed to pacify the demonstrators.