A total of 20 people, including the vice-chancellor (VC) of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur (BRUR), were confined in a room of the VC’s residence that was set on fire for four hours during a protest centring the quota reform movement.

The residence of BRUR VC Prof Dr Md Hasibur Rashid was vandalized amid the quota reform movement. Twenty individuals, including the VC's family, the university treasurer, the general secretary of the teachers' association, and the proctor, were trapped in the VC's residence.

The attack was reported on Tuesday afternoon. After an agonizing four and a half hours, members of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and the Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RMP) conducted a joint operation around 7pm and sent them to Rangpur Circuit House.

It is alleged that the attackers targeted the VC's residence with the intent to kill the 20 people.

The miscreants also looted belongings at the house and set the ground floor of the residence on fire. Although repeated attempts were made to reach the police and the fire service, neither could get to the house because miscreants occupied the area.

‘Saved from certain death’
Narrating the events of that day, Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Hasibur Rashid said: "I was holding a meeting with the university treasurer, proctor, general secretary of the teachers' association, and officials in my office about the ongoing situation. My wife was on the second floor. Suddenly, they attacked my residence. We all went to the second floor to save our lives.

At that time, the ground floor was set on fire. They did not stop there; they threw bombs and brickbats at the second floor. I called various officials for our security, including the fire service, but they could not come due to the criminals surrounding my house and the university, he added.

"Finally, I called Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal for help. When he received the call, I pleaded for our lives. Then a team of police, BGB, and RAB arrived, rescued us, and took us directly to the Circuit House. As a result, we were saved from certain death."

For this, he expressed gratitude to the home minister, RMP, RAB, and BGB.

BRUR Proctor Shariful Islam recounted that after 1pm on Tuesday, clashes erupted between quota reform protesters and quota supporters in various areas, including the park outside the university.

To control the situation, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets. Around 3pm, Abu Sayeed, a student of BRUR, was shot and seriously injured. He was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

Around 3:30pm, over 500 outsiders attacked the VC's residence, setting fire to 20 motorcycles and two private cars in front of the house.

"We tried to save our lives for about four and a half hours. We were certain we would be burned alive. During those four and a half hours, we contacted the RMP and RAB, pleading for help. Finally, at 7pm, police and RAB bypassed the main gate of the university, and took us to Rangpur Circuit House in a car," said Proctor Shariful Islam.

"If they had been 10 minutes late, the miscreants would have burned us alive," he added.

Asad Mondal, general secretary of the University Teachers' Association, said, "Those who attacked the VC's residence cannot be students of the university. “Because they cannot attack teachers and burn them alive.”

What law enforcers say
Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mobasswer Hasan said the operation to rescue 20 people was a challenging one. “RMP DC Abu Maruf Hossain, RAB-13 Commander Kamrul Islam led a commando-style operation to save the 20 people.”

Abu Maruf Hossain, deputy commissioner (crime) of RMP said RAB and police conducted a commando-style operation and rescued 20 people, including the VC, and brought them to Rangpur Circuit House.