A legal notice was served on the government yesterday, seeking an explanation as to why police fired on student demonstrators at Rajshahi University on February 2 and requesting clarification on whether the relevant laws were followed by law enforcers.
The notice, served by Supreme Court lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua on behalf of a group of human rights activists and public university teachers, also threatened to take the matter to the High Court if the authorities fail to reply within 24 hours.
The notice was sent to the home secretary, inspector general of police, commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police and the officer in charge (OC) of Motihar police station.
“The firing at the general students during their peaceful protest against the increase of tuition fees and the introduction of evening courses at their university is alarming and has been done in gross violation of the fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution,” the legal notice stated.
The document also stated that: “As per the Police Regulation of Bengal 1943, the police were supposed to get a formal order from an OC or a magistrate before opening fire to disperse the assembly and also give repeated warning to the participants before firing. But, our clients have reason to believe that no such warning was given. The law further requires that the police prepare a short report and thereafter, an extensive report, including the reasons for firing, the number of bullets used and the casualties, and then send it to the higher authorities.”
On February 2, police and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) - the ruling party’s student wing - attacked student demonstrators at the RU campus. Scores of protesters were injured, including 20 who were shot. After the incident, the university authorities, Motihar police, and the BCL filed six cases against 475 general students, specifying 105 names.
