CU cripples as BCL on non-stop blockade over Diaz death

The academic activities at Chittagong University (CU) remained halt yesterday as a faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of CU unit called indefinite blockade on the campus demanding five-point demands including immediate arrest of killers of BCL leader Diaz Irfan Chowdhury. The programme was called under the banner of general students on Saturday night. The shuttle train services between the campus and city remained suspended causing immense sufferings to the students. Campus sources said though no classes were held, scheduled examinations of few departments were held. Apart from that, a seminar was also held at CU amid the BCL blockade, said the sources. Sholoshahar Railway Station Master Md Shahabuddin told Dhaka Tribune “The campus bound shuttle train could not reach the station from Battali as the blockaders cut the hose pipes of the trains disrupting the schedules.” “Following the attack, the train operation between the campus and city remained suspended as per order of Bangladesh Railway (BR) East Zone,” added the station master. CU BCL’s Vice-President Mohammed Mamun also a leader of Diaz Irfan group told the Dhaka Tribune: “General students called the programme protesting the death of Diaz while BCL men expressed their solidarity with them demanding justice.” CU Assistant Proctor Niaj Morhsed Ripon said despite the blockade, the scheduled examinations of Philosophy department and Biology faculty were held. Classes of few departments were also held, he added. Additional police forces had been deployed on the campus to avert any untoward situation while university administration was trying to resolve the dead lock, added the assistant proctor. Belal Uddin Jahangir, officer-in-charge of Hathazari police station said: “Police are kept alert in CU campus area.” Assistant Secretary of BCL central committee also the former joint secretary of BCL CU unit Diaz Irfan was found dead at his flat located near CU Gate No 2 area under Hathazari police station on November 20. After the incident, family members and fellow BCL men claimed that it was a preplanned murder by his rivals. A case was filed with a Chittagong court on Thursday last accusing 10 persons including CU Assistant Proctor Anwar Hossain and CU BCL president Alamgir Tipu. Diaz and the accused in the case filed over Diaz death, both, are blessed by Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayor also Awami League (AL) city unit General Secretary AJM Nasir Uddin. The first autopsy report of Diaz said he committed suicide by hanging himself while family members rejected the reports and demanded to conduct second autopsy.