A group of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) members snatched away microphones from the stage and threatened the Ham organisers not to hold any further protest programmes under the banner -- Humayun Azad Mancha to Protect Freethinking and Resist Undemocratic Forces, witnesses said.

"In the face of the JCD's threats we had to stop our programme today after rendering only two songs," one of the Ham members said over cell phone yesterday.

"We reported the incident to DU Proctor AK Firoz Ahmed, but he did nothing for us," he added.

To protest the JCD's assault, the Ham will take out a procession starting from the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla at 10:00am today.

The Ham, a spontaneously formed protest platform, has been staging cultural performances including dramas, songs and recitation of poems in front of a sculpture titled Razu Bhaskerjo adjacent to the DU Teachers-Students Centre all through the week since the attack on Professor Azad.

Meanwhile, some 40 fourth-year undergraduate students, many of them JCD members, took out a procession and held a rally on the varsity campus yesterday demanding immediate resumption of classes.

They also urged the DU authorities to hold the final Bachelor Honours exams by April 20 so that they could sit for the 25th Bangladesh Civil Service examinations. The students will submit a memorandum to DU Vice-chancellor Professor SMA Faiz and the DU Teachers' Association (Duta) today demanding return to normal academic activities.

In another development, the Duta has planned to visit DU Chancellor and President Professor Iajuddin Ahmed at his Bangabhaban office today, Duta President AAMS Arefin Siddique said, adding they could not yet fix the time of the meeting.

Siddique said, "We will request the president to take immediate steps for sending Azad abroad for better medical treatment," adding the Duta would also discuss the latest campus situation with the chancellor.