BCL creates panic on RU campus by bringing out illegal bike procession

Prompting students and teachers to flee and take shelter in buildings in panic, some 80 Bangladesh Chhatra League men of Rajshahi University (RU) and Rajshahi city units brought out a procession of some 30 motorcycles on the campus in violation of a ban yesterday while police allegedly let the perpetrators go.

Against the backdrop of the February 2 attack by police and BCL activists on students protesting fee hikes and evening master's programmes, the RU authorities on March 3 banned political processions, rallies and use of megaphones.

The ban order states that appropriate punitive measures will be taken against the perpetrators by law enforcers, who were asked by the RU authorities to enforce law and order on the campus since 2009.

The procession was stopped by the proctorial body and cops at Tukitaki Chattar within some 15 minutes after commencing around 12:30pm.

Police had not entertained his request to arrest the perpetrators, rather had showed them the way out, Prof Tarikul Hasan told The Daily Star, adding that he had informed the Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) commissioner of the matter.

RMP Commissioner Md Shamsuddin asked talking to the officer-in-charge (OC). Motihar Police Station OC Alamgir Hossain said the perpetrators fled before they reached the spot.

Leading the procession, Vice President Rashedul Islam Ranju said it was over the demand for a new executive committee's formation.