Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) Rajshahi University unit yesterday postponed its indefinite strike on the campus till April 29 demanding the immediate arrest of Rustom Ali Akond’s killers, a BCL leader who was allegedly killed by Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) operatives in his dormitory room last Friday.
BCL leaders also threatened tougher action if their demands were not met by April 29, at a press conference held at the university central cafeteria at 2pm.
BCL RU unit President Mizanur Rahman Rana said they had postponed their indefinite strike for the sake of students after discussing it with the university authorities, police officials and the central BCL committee.
BCL yesterday observed its strike for the fourth consecutive day since Saturday, while no classes and examinations were held during the strike on the campus.
BCL RU unit General Secretary Touhid-al-Hossain Tuhin said if their six-point demands, including the arrest of ICS RU unit President Ashraful Alam Emon, were not met by April 29, they would declare tougher measures on campus.
Other demands by the BCL include financial assistance for Rustom Ali’s bereaved family, banning Shibir’s politics on campus, suspending all Shibir cadres involved in earlier attacks on BCL men including Faruk Hossain who was allegedly killed by Shibir activists on February 8, 2010; ensuring security of students on campus and holding an election for RU Central Students Union (RUCSU).
Rustom was a fourth year student of Political Science and acting general secretary of BCL Shaheed Shuhrawardy Hall unit. He was shot dead in his room last Friday. He was also a candidate for the post of president in the upcoming hall unit council, slated to be held on April 10.
Students of the Political Science department held a mourning ceremony and a discussion at the department in the morning and demanded justice for Rustom as soon as possible.
BCL also held a mass signature campaign in front of the central library in support of their demands yesterday morning.
Sharmin Akhter, a magistrate of Rajshahi Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court yesterday granted a one-day remand for two Shibir men detained last Sunday. Police had asked for seven days of remand, Ziaur Rahman, officer-in-charge of DB, said.
The detainees were ICS Dashmari unit Finance Secretary Sanaullah Jacky and Khurshed Alam, an ICS activist.
“There was no more arrest in connection with the murder and police were trying to arrest the masterminds of the Rustom murder,” he also said.
