Students of Rajshahi University are passing days in fear of arrest as cases filed against them in connection with a clash that took place on the campus last year are yet to be withdrawn.
Hundreds of students submitted a memorandum to the university authorities with seven points demands, including withdrawal of cases filed on February 2 last year after a clash.
On February 2, 2104, leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League with firearms attacked on the students who were holding a sit-in programme in front of the university’s administrative building in protest at the hike in fees at different departments and introduction of evening masters’ courses at different faculties.
Over 100 students and eight journalists were injured and some 20 other students received bullet injuries in the attack.
Despite taking action against the unruly BCL men, the university authorities, police and Chhatra League filed six cases with Motihar police station accusing over 750 general students the following.
“The accused students are feeling insecurity as the university authorities are yet to withdraw the cases filed against them,” said a student who preferred to be unnamed.
Yesterday, students also held a gathering in front of university’s central library demanding withdrawal of cases.
Students at the gathering alleged that the authorities were using the cases as the weapon against them so that they could not go on any movement to realise students’ demand.
Whenever we want to hold any programme on the campus regarding students’ right, authorities intimidate them with the threat of arrest, the speakers said.
However, the speakers urged the students to observe February 2 as “Prevention Day against Commercialisation of Education” at all the educational institutions across the country.
The students also threatened the university authorities with tougher agitation programmes if the cases were not withdrawn soon.
Later, they submitted a memorandum to the university Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin.
Their other demands include withdrawal of all increased fees and cancellation of ongoing commercial evening master’s courses at the faculty of law.
Sohrab Hossain, president of Socialist Student Front, Ayatullah Khomeni, president of Bangladesh Student Union, Jarif Muhib Ayan, president of Bangladesh Student Federation and Dilip Roy, general secretary of Biplobi Chhatra Moitree RU unit spoke at the gathering. However, the investigation body formed followed by the February 2 violence then is yet to submit its report.
Prof Khalequzzman, the chief of 5-member investigation team, told the Dhaka Tribune, they could not end the investigation as lack of cooperation from the students’ side. However, RU VC Prof Mizanuddin told the Dhaka Tribune that students did not need to be worry over the cases.