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A tense atmosphere continues to hang over several public universities across the country, a day after violent clashes, chases and counter-chases between students and outsiders, the besieging of vice-chancellors and teachers, and the closure of some institutions.
On Monday, protesting students took to the streets of their campuses, coming out of their halls despite Section 144 at Chittagong University (CU).
Meanwhile, Chhatra Dal activists demanded the inclusion of first-year students in the voter list for the Rajshahi University Central Students’ Union (RUCSU).
At Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU), students blocked the Dhaka–Mymensingh railway line, defying an instruction to vacate the campus following its closure.
Three CU students fighting for life
The CU campus and surrounding areas remained highly charged following Sunday’s sporadic clashes between students and locals, which left more than 300 teachers, students, police officers and journalists injured.
Of the injured, three students are fighting for their lives. Two are on life support – one at Parkview Hospital in Chattogram and the other at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) in Dhaka.
Naimul Islam of the Department of Islamic Studies was admitted to National Hospital in critical condition on Sunday.
After emergency surgery, he was transferred to Dhaka that night, where he underwent another operation at the NICVD and is now under observation, sources said.
Imtiaz Ahmed of International Relations and Mamun Mia of Sociology have been on life support at Parkview Hospital since Sunday night. While Mamun’s condition has shown some improvement, Imtiaz remains critical.
Mohammad Amin, ICU Consultant at Parkview Hospital, said, “Both students suffered severe head and brain injuries, along with heavy bleeding. Mamun’s physical response has improved compared to before, but we cannot say anything about Imtiaz yet.”
Despite Section 144, students poured out of their residential halls throughout the day, staging demonstrations at various points. Their demands included justice for the attacks on students, as well as the resignation of the vice-chancellor, proctor and other officials over their failure to ensure student safety.
Large contingents of army and police personnel remained deployed across the campus, patrolling to prevent further unrest. Joint forces also carried out raids at night to identify and detain the attackers.
Locals reported that Jobra village was virtually deserted even before the raids began. Shops remained closed, and CNG-run auto-rickshaws stayed off the roads throughout Monday.
Leaders of Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir accused the police of acting merely as spectators during the violence.
However, Additional Superintendent of Police (Industrial & DB) Md Russel insisted the situation had been brought under control.
“Police respond only after any incident is reported. Since we were few in number initially, we went to the scene in the afternoon along with other forces,” he told the Daily Sun.
Chhatra Dal pushes for voting rights of first-year students at RU
The Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal staged a sit-in on Monday, demanding that first-year students be included in the voter lists for RUCSU, hall unions and senate elections.
The programme began at 12:30pm in front of the university’s administrative building.
Sardar Zahurul Islam, general secretary of the university unit of Chhatra Dal, declared,
“No assassin or neo-fascist will find a place at this university. Chhatra Dal will not accept any conspiracy that protects injustice or power. The demand for voting rights for first-year students is justified. The movement will continue until our demands are met.”
BAU students block Dhaka–Mymensingh railway
At Bangladesh Agricultural University, students blocked the Dhaka-Mymensingh railway line. AHM Himel, a student of the Faculty of Animal Husbandry and representative of the protestors, issued a six-point ultimatum to the university administration at around 11:30 am, rejecting the order to vacate the halls by 2pm.
As the administration failed to respond, students blocked the railway line at Jabbar’s Mor around 4:00 pm, bringing train services on the route to a standstill.
Courtesy: Daily Sun
Bd-pratidin English/FNC