Students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) who had been holding demonstrations on campus since Monday, yesterday went back to classes upon Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman’s assurance.
However, they gave the minister a three-day ultimatum to meet their demands.
The agitated students, most of whom are allegedly backed by the university’s Chhatra League unit, called for the movement under the banner of “Shorbostorer Chhatra Janata.”
Their demands include ensuring security of students on campus and immediate arrest of the miscreants who staged a showdown and exploded crude bombs on the campus on Monday.
Sources in BAU said a delegation of the protesting students met with the Religious Affairs Minister Motiur Rahman, also a syndicate member of BAU, at his residence on Wednesday where the minister assured them to resolve the issues as early as possible.
“We have joined classes as the Religious Minister has assured us that necessary steps will be taken against the goons who carried terrorist acts inside our peaceful campus,” said Tayaf Riyad, spokesperson of the movement.
“However, we have given the authorities concerned an ultimatum until Sunday. Considering the enrollment process of the freshers for 2014-15 academic sessions starting from November 23, we have decided to withdraw our programme,” he said.
Some alleged activists of BCL Mymensingh unit led by its president Md Jasim Uddin staged a showdown on the campus on 20-25 motorbikes on Monday around 6pm.
They allegedly blasted two cocktails and fired two rounds of bullets in front of the Shaheed Nazmul Ahsan Hall of the university. On November 8, they tried to enter Husain Shaheed Suhrawardy Hall by breaking its gate.
Yesterday a three-member probe body led by Mymensingh BCL Vice-President Nazmul Huda hold talks with the BAU Proctor.
“We are here to investigate the incident to ensure discipline among our party men. We will submit our report within next two days,” said Huda.
