Directed by the JCD high-ups, leaders of the JCD's different hall units cordoned off and guarded the entrances to the campus from 7:00am to 2:00pm to keep the BCL men at bay.

"We have a directive to beat up the Chhatra League men wherever we see them," a JCD activist said, preferring anonymity. He added the DU unit leaders asked them not to go on campus and carry on the mauling job that they have been assigned to, instead.

The police misbehaved with teachers Prof Haripada Bhattacharya, Prof Mizanur Rahman and Mohammad Morshed Hasan Khan of the marketing department at the DU entrance at Nilkhet. Witnesses said Sergeant Azhar swore at them.

Tension was running high on the campus after the JCD declared the BCL unwanted on the campus for an indefinite period. Seven opposition-backed student organisations led by the BCL enforce a strike at educational institutions across the country today in protest at the JCD atrocities.

The JCD men beat up at least five BCL activists on the fringe of the campus, while the JCD activists of Sir Salimullah Hall roughed up and drove out at least two BCL activists from the hall in the early hours yesterday.

The JCD men beat up Imaul Haque Sarker Titu, a third-year student of Islamic studies, in front of the Bangla Academy in presence of the police. He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital with serious head injuries. The other injured are Joy, Naser and Reza.

The police clubbed and chased the BCL leaders and activists who gathered at the High Court intersection and tried to take out a procession. Two BCL activists -- Titon and Limon -- were injured while Anjan, a BCL activist of Jagannath Hall, was arrested during the police action.

JCD GUARD

The JCD men of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall, Haji Mohammed Mohsin Hall and Suryasen Hall guarded the stretch of the road from Bangla Academy to the Institute of Fine Arts, Ziaur Rahman Hall unit JCD took position at Shahbagh intersection, Jasimuddin Hall in front of Institute of Fine Arts, Jagannath Hall at Central Shaheed Minar and Bakshibazar, Fazlul Haque Hall at Chankhar Pool, Ekushey Hall at Curzon Hall, Shahidullah Hall at High Court intersection, Salimullah Hall at Palashi and Sir AF Rahman and Sergeant Jahurul Haque Hall at Nilkhet to prevent the BCL men from getting to the campus.

POLICE EXCESSES
The police stopped the car of Prof Haripada entering the campus at about 11:00am at the Nilkhet entrance. Constables barred his entry to the campus on the pretext that his car had no DU sticker on it. An altercation ensued and Sergeant Azhar behaved rudely with teacher Morshed Hasan, who was with Prof Haripada, saying that he has the authority to do anything on the campus.

Following Saturday's fatal bus accident near Shahbagh intersection in which Dhaka University student Shammee Akhter Happy died, sparking violent protests, the police put up barricades at the entry points to the campus and are letting vehicles only with DU stickers on.

DU Treasurer Prof Syed Rasidul Hasan and Proctor Prof AKA Firoz Ahmed rushed to the scene on information and brought the situation under control.

The teachers as well as the JCD leaders including DU unit President Hasan Mamun protested the incidents and demanded immediate punishment of the sergeant.

"PUNISH JCD MEN”
Progotishil Chhatra Jote, a combine of six left-leaning student bodies, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation and Samajtanrik Chhatra Front took out processions and held rallies on the campus demanding punishment of the JCD men who attacked them.

They also reiterated the demands including resignation of the vice-chancellor (VC) and the proctor for what they said was their failure to ensure security of the students.

JCD SEEKS APOLOGY
The JCD brought out a procession and held a rally on the campus demanding immediate arrest and punishment of the BCL activists for blasting the bomb on the campus on Tuesday. JCD President Azizul Baree Helal told the rally that "the students would continue their resistance against the BCL" if it does not apologise to them for the blast.

Helal said Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina had directed the BCL high-ups to fire gunshots on the campus, but they blasted a bomb and because of this, she has given a statement to the media where she condemned gunshots instead of the blast.

JCD General Secretary Shafiul Bari Babu said, "We cannot say 'no' to the Chhatra League men if they want to come back to the campus, provided the general students forgive them."

BCL VERSION
Asked about the JCD contention that the BCL will have to apologise to the students to enter the campus, BCL General Secretary Nazrul Islam Babu said those who committed crime should offer an apology to the students. He warned that they would launch a united movement along with the countrymen in a bid to force the JCD to apologise to the general students for committing the atrocities on the students.

Babu accused the JCD of damaging the culture of student politics by repeatedly attacking the general students and activists of other opposition student organisations.

BCL TO FILE CASE
Babu said he would file a case today against 21 JCD men including its DU unit President Hasan Mamun and General Secretary Saiful Islam Firoz on charges of beating up the BCL leaders and activists on the campus.

VC SEEKS CO-OPERATION
Vice-chancellor Prof SMA Faiz sought co-operation of all the student organisations to maintain a congenial atmosphere on the campus. He said he would resign from his office when he would feel that he failed to handle the campus situation.

DU GOES ON VACATION
The university went on a scheduled summer vacation from yesterday, with authorities postponing all scheduled examinations in the wake of continued campus violence.