We won't be suppressed

A group of Dhaka University (DU) students yesterday formed a human chain on the campus, protesting the January 23 attack on demonstrators by the Bangladesh Chhatra League activists and demanded punishment for the BCL men.

Around 100 students took part in the human chain held under the banner of “Students against repression” at the base of Raju memorial sculpture around 1:30pm.

“They [BCL] thought we would lose our courage after the attack. But we're still on the street and will continue our protest until the authorities meet our demand,” said Abu Raihan Khan, a student of mass communication and journalism department.

“The authorities are bound to listen to our logical demands as the university runs on public money. They cannot suppress us using Chhatra League,” he added.

After the human chain, the students also brought out a procession. The students will observe a nationwide strike today called by Pragatisheel Chhatra Jote.

Meanwhile, Pragatisheel Chhatra Jote, an alliance of left-leaning student organisations, brought out a procession on the campus yesterday, demanding punishment for the BCL activists for carrying out attacks on protestors in different educational institutes.

On January 23, a group of students and some activists of left-leaning student organisations besieged the VC office with their four-point demand including expulsion of BCL men for harassing some female students a few days ago.

At least 50 demonstrators and two journalists were injured when the BCL activists swooped on the gathering to “rescue” the VC, who was kept confined in front of his office by the protestors.

The following day, BCL men swooped on activists of left-leaning student organisations in two other educational institutions across the country during their programmes.

At least 15 students of Chittagong University were injured when BCL activists attacked the procession of Progressive Students' Alliance, protesting the BCL attack on DU campus. Meanwhile, BCL attack on students of Murari Chand (MC) College in Sylhet left 13 injured.