The new assault prompted seven opposition-backed student organisations led by pro-Awami League Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) to call a countrywide student strike for tomorrow in protest.

Witnesses said a bomb exploded at the main entrance to the Arts Building, within 20 yards of the site of the JCD rally at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla, which was being held to mark the death anniversary of president Ziaur Rahman and protest the campus violence for the last three days.

The JCD men blamed the BCL for the blast, beat up the its leaders and activists wherever they were found and chased them out of the campus. The student wing of the ruling coalition head also declared the BCL men unwanted on the campus for an indefinite period.

The BCL leaders have vowed to stage a comeback onto the DU campus today. They, however, feared that the showdown between the two organisations may escalate into violent clashes and threatened to enforce an indefinite strike at the educational institutions across the country and hartals if the DU authorities do not ensure their security.

The top leaders of the student organisations injured in the yesterday's attack are Biplobi Chhatra Moitri President Abu Naser Anik, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitri President Rafiqul Islam Sujon, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation President Taslima Akther Lima, Bangladesh Chhatra Union vice- presidents Jolly Talukder and Zahid Mamun, BCL Vice-President Anisur Rahman, its central leader Arman Patwari and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-backed BCL's DU unit President Azizur Rahman Aziz.

Besides, a number of leaders and activists and general students took first aid in the city's clinics and hospital. Some of the critically injured students were undergoing treatment at different city hospitals.

Dhaka University Teachers' Association (Duta) observed a one-hour work abstention from 12:00pm to protest against the raging campus violence. Later, it took out a silent procession that ended at the Central Shaheed Minar.

It all started with a group of 50 JCD men armed with sticks swooping on the Progatishil Chhatra Jote (PCJ), a combine of six left-leaning student organisations, at Madhu's Canteen when the PCJ activists were preparing to take out a procession to lay siege to the vice-chancellor (VC) office to make the authorities concede their demands. They also broke chairs and tables at the canteen.

Another group of as many JCD men attacked activists of The Students against Repression, a platform of the general students, formed after the death of a university student on Saturday, at the rear gate of the Arts Building. The JCD men did not even spare the students who took refuge at the teachers' lounge.

The JCD adherents also looked out for the students as well as the BCL men in the common room for female students and in the classrooms on the ground floor of the Arts Building.

Yet another group of JCD men at around the same time attacked the students at the canteen of the Institute of Business Adminis-tration, DU Central Library, TSC cafeteria, Ducsu collection centre and cafeteria. They mauled at least 20 activists of the BCL and other left-leaning student organisations.

The BCL activists in retaliation vandalised at least five vehicles in the city's Bakshi Bazar and Chankhar Pool areas. At this, the JCD men ransacked at least 50 residential hall rooms and vandalised and looted the valuables of the BCL leaders and activists. They also drove at least 50 BCL men from different halls after roughing them up.

BLAMES TRADED
The JCD at a press conference at the Dhaka University Journalists' Association (Duja) office said the BCL blasted the bomb to upset the congenial atmosphere on the campus. Its leaders demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the BCL men involved with the explosion.

The BCL at another press conference at the Workers' Party office blamed the JCD for the blast and demanded immediate arrest and punishment of the JCD activists for their involvement with it. They threatened an immediate launch of a movement to bring down the government if the university vice-chancellor and proctor did not resign.

BCL President Liaqat Sikdar alleged that VC Prof SMA Faiz and Proctor Prof AKA Firoz Ahmed instigated the blast.

JCD President Azizul Baree Helal said that former VC Prof AK Azad Chowdhury, Duta President Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique, Dean of Social Science Faculty Prof Harun-or-Rashid and Sadeka Halim directly instigated the bomb blast.

OUTIDERS HELD
The DU proctor caught two outsiders, who are activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Moitri (BCM) and turned them in to Ramna police. The BCM, however, said at least five of its activists have been arrested.

PRESS CONFERENCES
The PCJ and Bangladesh Chhatra Union in separate press conferences at Duja office demanded punishment of the JCD men for the attack and a proper investigation into the bomb blast. They also reiterated their demand for the resignation of the VC and the proctor.

WALKOUTS
Two emergency meetings at the DU were marked by walkouts last night.

Two members walked out of the Syndicate meeting in protest at the decision not to condemn the JCD for blaming four DU teachers for the blast.

Starting at 9:00pm with the VC in the chair, the meeting was continuing till filing this report at 11:00pm. It saw a heated debate over a proposal by Prof Kazi Shahidullah and Dr Sadeka Halim to condemn the JCD for its statement at yesterday's press conference. But the other members including the VC opposed the proposal, arguing that the press reports that linked four teachers of Institute of Fine Arts to attack on general students Sunday should also be condemned if JCD are to be censured for its statement.

Meanwhile, four members -- Prof RIM Aminur Rashid, Prof Harun-or-Rashid, Prof Mahbubur Rahman and Prof Nim Chandra Bhowmik -- walked out of the DU Disciplinary Board, also chaired by the VC, citing authorities' mishandling of the campus situation and not executing the recommendations of the September 11, 2004 attack by the JCD on six opposition-backed student organisations.

EXAMS POSTPONED
The Syndicate, meanwhile, cancelled all the examinations scheduled to be held during the summer vacation, starting today.

3 PROBERS RESIGN
Members Prof Rafiqunnabi, Sadeka Halim and Dr Rahmatullah of the committee, formed to probe the police and JCD atrocities and vandalisation of the proctor's office, resigned yesterday terming the probe "an eyewash and nothing but an attempt to suppress the facts".

Meanwhile, DU Treasurer Prof Syed Rashidul Hasan was not officially informed of his being selected as the head of the nine-member enquiry body until 9:30pm. Prof Hasan said he is now hesitant to sit on the committee after the resignation of the three members from the body.