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noon and demanded money for a local gathering and financial records related to the former principal’s tenure.

Aleya began recording the incident on her phone. Shahad tried to stop her, and she slapped him. Shahad then took off his sandal and hit her with that.

Another video shows the teacher assaulting Afaz on the college ground later on.

Shortly afterwards, BNP leaders and activists assaulted Principal Abdur Razzak and several other teachers and vandalised the office room, Aleya told The Daily Star.

At least five people, including the principal, Aleya, and Prof Rezaul Karim Alam, were injured.

Aleya claimed that the group had repeatedly demanded financial accounts as part of extortion attempts. “They attacked me because I stood by the principal and protested.”

Talking to this newspaper, Shahad, seen in the viral video, said, “I have leased a pond from the college for fish farming. I went to the college to pay the lease money. As the situation there was tense and there had already been an ongoing conflict between the college teachers and some other people, I wanted to leave. At that point, Aleya got into an argument with me for no reason and slapped me. After being slapped, I lost control, took off my sandal and hit her several times.”

Akbar, vice-president of Joynagar union BNP, claimed that they sought accountability over alleged irregularities and corruption. He also alleged that Aleya first attacked them, leading to escalation.

After the incident, Akbar was expelled from all party positions, including primary membership, for engaging in activities deemed against party discipline and principles, according to a press release signed by BNP Senior Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday.

Principal Razzak told this correspondent that the BNP group had been demanding money since he joined the college four months ago. The group got infuriated as he refused to pay the money.

Rafiqul Islam, investigation officer of Durgapur Police Station, said police had been present anticipating unrest and tried to restrain both sides. “However, some people entered the college premises forcibly and carried out the assault and vandalism,” he said, adding that no complaint has yet been filed.