A citizens' group yesterday faced resistance from some Dhaka University students, when the former went to the Central Shaheed Minar to protest the recent assault of a photographer and his two nieces by some alleged activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League on the campus.

Brotee, a civil rights group, was to hold a rally under the banner, "Save Dhaka University from Criminals". When people gathered there to join the protest, the students did not let them stand on the stairs of the Shaheed Minar, and also used indecent remarks.

Acting Proctor Amzad Ali arrived at the scene and tried to calm the students but they demanded removal of the banner. "Why would they call us criminals?" they shouted.

On November 5, four BCL activists of Shahidullah Hall allegedly assaulted Imtiaz Alam Beg and his two nieces. The four have been on the run since the day of the attack.

When Brotee tried to hold the rally, about 100 students under the banner, "Dhaka University Students", started gathering at the Shaheed Minar from around 2:20pm, calling for "saving" the university from the "farce" of the people who were assaulted.

Demanding justice, they said the people who were assaulted had lied, hid information, carried out unauthorised activities, while the media sided with them and published biased news.

One of them Nakib, who refused to disclose his full identity, said, "We did not take permission to rally here. We are students of this university. We do not need permission."

Two assistant proctors present at the scene prevented confrontation, and the group expressing solidarity with the victims of November 5 moved away from the stairs.

For about one and half hours the proctor and assistant proctors tried to quell the students.

The students also made several attempts to attack the civilian group, but were pushed back by the university authority and police. Brotee's executive Sharmin Murshed, jurist Dr Kamal Hossain, dancer Lubna Mariam, Prof CR Abrar, journalist Zafar Sobhan, among others joined the rally. Brotee concluded its programme at 5:00pm.

Though the students denied their involvement with any political group, allegations were rife that BCL leaders backed the rally.

Mehedi Hasan Mollah, president of DU unit BCL, said BCL activists were not present at the venue.