Dhaka, December 29: A bus carrying students of Jagannath University (JnU) came under attack in the Mohakhali bus terminal area, leaving seven people, including the driver of the university bus, injured. The incident reportedly involved drivers and helpers of Ekata Transport, who allegedly assaulted the JnU students and their bus driver using bricks, stones, and sticks.

Eyewitness accounts from the students revealed that the altercation began when the JnU Ulka-4 bus approached the U-turn near Mohakhali. An Ekata Transport bus was blocking the road, preventing the JnU bus from moving forward. Despite repeated honking and requests, the Ekata bus refused to clear the way. This led to a verbal altercation between the drivers of the two buses.

According to Mizanur Rahman Sohag, a student from the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication, the situation escalated quickly. “When our bus driver asked the Ekata driver to give way, he responded by attacking him with a stick. As the attackers tried to take our driver away, we intervened, but they turned on us as well. They threw bricks and stones at us, even targeting the female students on the bus,” he said.

JnU bus driver Jagadish recounted the ordeal, stating that the Ekata Transport bus had no reason to block the road. “There was no vehicle in front of their bus. When I requested them multiple times to move aside, the driver and helpers of their bus attacked me with sticks. Others from the terminal joined in, assaulting me and the students. My hand is broken, and my body is covered in injuries. They even hit me in the eye. I demand justice for this attack,” he said.

The assault also left several students injured, with many expressing shock and frustration over the unprovoked violence.

JnU’s Transport Administrator, Professor Dr. Md. Omar Faruk, condemned the attack, emphasizing the severity of the injuries sustained by the bus driver and students. “Our driver, Jagadish, is severely injured. We are unsure if his eyesight will recover. Several students are also hurt. Such violence against university buses, whether from Jagannath or any other institution, is unacceptable,” he said.

Dr. Faruk added that the driver and helpers involved in the attack fled the scene following the incident. Representatives from Ekata Transport’s ownership arrived to discuss the matter with university officials. “We are engaging with Ekata Transport to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. They have expressed their willingness to resolve the issue, and we hope to reach a satisfactory conclusion,” he added.

This incident has sparked outrage among students and university authorities, who have demanded strict action to ensure the safety of public transport for educational institutions.