A writ petition was lodged with the High Court challenging the firing on the students of Rajshahi University on February 2 who launched a peaceful protest against the evening courses.
The plea lodged by SC lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua on behalf of a group of human rights activists and public university teachers sought a rule seeking explanations as why the ‘firing’ by the law enforcers on the general students caused grievous injuries in many students should not be declared unconstitutional.
The home secretary, inspector general of police, police commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan and the Motihar police station officer-in-charge were made respondents in the plea.
The petition also sought another rule asking as to why the respondents should not be directed to submit a report before the HC explaining the reasons for firing and what procedures they had followed before and after the incident.
It also pleaded for an order seeking Motihar police station OC to appear before the HC to explain his conduct during the incident.
The plea alleged: “According to the law, two reports must be prepared--one brief and another extensive-- regarding the use of firearms and send those to the higher authorities. In the absence of any such reports renders the police action of firing gunshots illegal.”
Earlier, on February 11, the lawyer served a legal notice to the respondents seeking explanations for the firing. But they did not reply which prompted the human rights activists and university teachers to take the matter to the High Court.
The petitioners are -- Prof Akmal Hossain of the International Relations Department of Dhaka University, Nijera Kori's National Coordinator Khushi Kabir, former Prof Swapan Adnan of Chittagong University, Prof Anu Muhammad, Prof Rafique Ullah Khan, Executive Director of Research Initiatives, Bangladesh (RIB) Meghna Guhathakurta, women's rights activist Shipra Bose, Prof Manas Kumar Chowdhury and Prof Swadhin Sen of Jahangirnagar University, Associate Professor Fahmidul Haq, Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Samina Lutfa of Dhaka University, and rights activist Arup Rahee.
On February 2, police and cadres of Bangladesh Chhatra League attacked students of Rajshahi University during their demonstrations against fee hike fees as well as the evening masters’ programmes.
Scores of students were injured and 20 were shot amid the attack. However, the University authority, Motihar police station and BCL filed six cases against a total number of 475 general students including 105 specific names.