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| Bangladesh |
| Police, BCL attack students; 100 hurt, RU closed |
| 2014-02-03 |
| [Dhaka Tribune] The Rajshahi University authority yesterday at an emergency meeting decided to close the university sine die from today and asked its students to vacate the dormitories by 8am. The decision came after at least 100 students were maimed in yesterday's clash between students, police and activists of Chhatra League ... the student wing of the Bangla Awami League ... Of the injured, around 20 were bullet- and rubber bullet-hit. The bullet-hit injured are Parag, Rabiul, Mousum, Ashiq, Abdur Rashid, Abdul Latif, Saju (marketing department third year), Ashiqur Rahman, (statistics second year), Zahir Raihan, (management second year), Sohel Rana (MBA), Abu Sufian, Rubel, Parvez, (mass communication MSS final year), Anwar (Botany third year), Touhid (political science third year), Ragib (mass communication second year), Nazrul (applied chemistry first year), Hamidul, Rana and Rakhi. They were all admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital. The Chhatra League activists opened fire on the agitating students while police tear shells and rubber bullets. Moreover, at least 10 journalists, including our RU correspondent, were maimed when the newsmen were trying to cover the incident. The incident took place around 12 noon while the agitating students were holding a sit-in in front of the university's administrative building. From the early morning, the students marched on the campus from different halls and private messes and took position in front of all academic buildings, padlocking their gates to observe strike enforced for the third consecutive day. Later, over 5,000 students joined the sit-in in front of the university's administrative building at 11am. Around 12noon, Chhatra League activists drew a procession led by its RU unit President Mizanur Rahman Rana and General Secretary Touhid-al-Hossain Tuhin. The party activists allegedly entered the students' demonstration and launched an attack on them. During the attack, BCL activists allegedly fired bullet at random at the students. Police also started firing rubber bullets and tear shells to disperse the agitating students. After dispersion, the general students took position at different points on the campus and kept chanting slogans. The Chhatra League activists later chased after the students while allegedly opening fire at them at the same time to oust them from the campus. Around 2pm, a large number of agitating students assembled in front of the university's central library. The protesters declared that they would continue movement till their three-point demand were met. They also added two more demand that includes exemplary punishment to the BCL attackers and bearing of all medical expenses of the injured by the university authorities. The general students had been continuing their movement from January 16 this year under the banner of "Teachers-Students against increased fees and evening courses" to push for their three-point demand. The three were withdrawal of the recently taken decision to introduce evening master's courses under the Social Science Faculty, putting a stop to the ongoing evening master's courses at the BBA and Law Faculty and decrease in the recently hiked fees. The RU students also abstained from joining classes and examinations from Thursday. Asked about the police role, the deputy commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (East) said the lawmen fired rubber bullets and tear shells as the students went on the rampage. Proctor Tarikul Hasan told the newsmen that the situation was under control. Chhatra League President Mizanur Rahman Rana gave the version that they went into action as the students were trying to make the situation of the university unstable. A five-member probe team has been formed to investigate the yesterday's incident on the campus. Prof Khalequzzaman of Zoology Department heads the investigation team. RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Mizanuddin on Saturday at a press briefing postponed the decision to hike fees following a continuous strike and demonstration by the students on the campus while two others demand of the students were yet to be settled. The agitated students, however, declared that they would continue their campaign till all their demand were met. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #3 |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-03 17:04 |
| #2 Only closed on Dr. Tellers birthday. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2014-02-03 16:55 |
| #1 Headline scared me - thought it said Rantburg University was closed. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2014-02-03 12:35 |