BCL faction calls nonstop CU blockade

A faction of Chittagong University Chhatra League enforces a nonstop blockade on the campus from today, to realise its six-point demand over the killing of BCL activist Taposh Sarker.

The demands include withdrawal of “false cases” against the leaders and activists of the faction, arrest of the “real” killers and withdrawal of the officer-in-charge of Hathazari Police Station for dereliction of duty.

The Varsity Express (VEx) group, allegedly backed by the university administration, made the announcement around 9:00pm yesterday.

Anwar Jahid Anik, member of the dissolved CU BCL committee, said they came up with the programme as the university administration failed to meet its demands within the given time. 

The faction on December 17 had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the authorities to meet the demands.

Taposh, 20, a first-year student of CU Sanskrit department, was shot dead in a BCL factional clash on the campus on December 14, barely a month after the prime minister warned the CU BCL unit over frequent infighting.

According to campus sources, the clash broke out after the VEx group hurled abuse and threw brick chips at the activists of another CU BCL faction, Choose Friend with Care.

Two cases were filed in connection with the incident on that day. 

One was filed by police against 55 people, including five activists of the VEx group, over recovery of arms from a university dormitory.

The other case was filed by Hafizul Islam, a classmate of Taposh, in which he accused 45 BCL leaders and activists.   

The accused in the murder case include cultural secretary of the dissolved committee of CU BCL Ashrafuzzaman Asha, environment secretary of the same committee Enamul Hasan Ovi, VEx group leaders Rubel Dey and Shahrid Shuvo.