On February 12, 2023, members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling party, the Awami League, assaulted and injured a student belonging to the Hindu community at Rajshahi University.

Two BCL members reportedly beat up, threatened to kill, and demanded that Krishna Roy leave his dormitory room. According to Roy, they also threatened to brand him as an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, a Bangladeshi opposition group. Two days later, on February 14, Roy filed a complaint with the university proctor. The university formed a three person committee to investigate the incident starting on February 15. The committee later recommended the expulsion of the two BCL students responsible for the attack.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about threats and attacks by students on other students. Students must refrain from such violence, especially on campus, and respect the right to freedom of association. In addition to harm to the immediate victims, violent attacks on students undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.newagebd.net/article/194497/bcl-leaders-torture-student-at-ru-hall
https://www.prothomalo.com/bangladesh/district/wckgd8oow4
https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/nation/305920/probe-body-formed-over-ru-student-torture