DU BCL withdraws agitation after assurance
Bangladesh Chhatra League has shelved its move over Dhaka University’s yearbook after assurance that the culprits behind a printing “mistake” will be brought to book.
After daylong agitation, demonstration and vandalism, the ruling party’s student front reconciled after a meeting with university authorities this evening.
- Yearbook said Ziaur Rahman was the first president of Bangladesh
- DU VC attacked at campus, acting registrar suspended
- BCL called for resignation of VC before withdrawing agitation
- VC says he won’t take responsibility, 'mistake unprecedented’
Saifur Rahman Sohag, central Chhatra League’s president, called off their movement in a press briefing after holding the meeting at VC’s residence around 9:00pm.
He said Vice Chancellor Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique assured them of booking the culprits who, in the annual souvenir book, mentioned Ziaur Rahman as the first president of Bangladesh.
READ MORE: DU VC attacked, registrar suspended over yearbook
The souvenir book in question, published today on the 95th founding day of Dhaka University, has already been confiscated after it faced violent protest from the ruling party’s student front.
It said Ziaur Rahman, founder of ruling Awami League’s political archrival BNP, was the founding president of Bangladesh – what has been declared null and void by law.
Enraged over the distortion of history, Chhatra League activists vandalised VC’s car, put his office under lock and key, burned a copy of the memento book and threatened to wage indefinite strike at campus if he does not resign by tonight.
Meanwhile, acting Registrar Syed Rezaur Rahman has been suspended over the incident.
VC DENIES RESPONSIBILITY
In a press briefing held during the heat at campus, VC Arefin Siddique told journalists that the mistake in question was “unprecedented.” He said “appropriate actions will be taken after investigation”.
“There was a great mistake in the annual book. We have withdrawn the publication and suspended its writer acting Registrar Syed Rezaur Rahman,” the VC said. “It was Rezaur’s byline publication and so he will be held responsible.”
To The Daily Star Online, the VC alleged that it was “in instigation from a malicious quarter” that led to “students attacking his car” at campus today.
Meanwhile at campus, Chhatra League besieged the VC’s office and put it under lock and key for some time. They demonstrated near the office staging protest.
Abid Al Hasan, president of Dhaka University unit Chhatra League, had called for the VC’s resignation by tonight and threatened to strike indefinitely if their demand was not met.