Rajshahi: Activists of Rajshahi University wing of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the pro-Awami League students’ organisation, have forced students to join its victory day celebrations and even beat up a third year student who refused to join the programmes, complained students.

The incident took place at the Madar Baksh hall of the University at about 12:45 last night.

The victim is Abu Bakar Siddique Shimul, general secretary of the Rajshahi University Central Cultural Alliance.

The accused Chhatra League activists are Mehedi Raj of Economics, Razzak of Social Science, and Imran, Naeem, Rubel of Linguistics department.

Hall sources said the said activists, who were reportedly supporters of Madar Baksh Hall Chhatra League general secretary Masud Rana, started gathering students at about 12:00 midnight for a procession marking the 45^th Victory Day.

Students alleged that the BCL activists forced students to join the procession.

The victim Shimul said ‘I denied attending the procession as I was busy with study. So the BCL activists verbally abused and one of them, Razzak, slapped me several times. They also threatened to throw me out of the hall.’

General secretary Masud Rana said ‘None was forced or beaten up. A simple dispute occurred as Shimul did not attend.’

Central Cultural Alliance president Sohail Rana said ‘We will file written complaint to the university Proctor and the provost of the hall. We will go hardline if the accused are not punished.’