Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has instructed the authorities concerned to take action against those who assaulted Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) Vice President Nurul Haque Nur and others, said Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader.
Quader, also Awami League general secretary, made the remarks while talking to reporters at his office on Monday (Dec 23).
Administrative and organizational action will be taken against the attackers, he added.
"Everyone has the right to express different views and DUCSU VP has the right to criticize the government. We condemn the attack," he said.
While visiting Nur and several others at the Dhaka Medical Collage Hospital (DMCH), Awami League presidium member Jahangir Kabir Nanak promised to punish the attackers.
Dhaka University Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Md Akhtaruzzaman, Proctor AKM Golam Rabbani, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, BNP Joint Secretary General Habibun Nabi Khan Sohel also visited Nur and others at the hospital.
On Sunday (Dec 22), DUCSU VP Nur and at least 15 of his followers were injured in attacks by activists working under the banner of Muktijuddho Mancha on the campus after heated arguments.
Activists of Muktijuddha Mancha allegedly hurled brickbats at DUCSU office room when Nur and some of his associates were inside.
DU Chhatra League President Sanjit Chandra Das and General Secretary Saddam Hussain, who is also the assistant general secretary of DUCSU, came to the building and some activists of the organisation entered it with them.
An altercation broke out when BCL leaders told Nur that he asks "outsiders" to leave the DUCSU offices.
The BCL leaders left after reportedly slapping a five-minute deadline to clear the offices.
The attackers then drove out the Nur’s associate from his room. While leaving the building, they were beaten up by stick-wielding activists.
The attackers took away the hard drive of the building’s security cameras while leaving.
The members of the university’s proctorial team then took Nur and the others to the hospital.
Nur has come under attack on the campus and in different parts of the country after he defeated the BCL candidate in the DUCSU election in March.
He was the pick of the Bangladesh Council to Protect General Students’ Rights that spearheaded a movement forcing the government to scrap quotas, including for freedom fighters’ descendants, in civil service recruitment.