Cops thwart demo of govt college students

-- Cops use batons, tear gas

-- Demo ends, date announced

-- 4 hurt, 13 detained

Police today thwarted a student demonstration at Dhaka’s Shahbagh demanding examination schedules for seven colleges recently affiliated with Dhaka University.

After hours of baton, tear gas and brick chip action, the students gave up after receiving assurance in this regard soon, our campus correspondent reports.

The students began with a human chain, followed by a sit-in, at Shahbagh around 10:00am. Police cleared them off with baton charging and tear gas canisters.

HM Azimul Haque, additional deputy commissioner of Ramna division police, said the students were first requested to clear the busy intersection. “When they didn’t listen, we dispersed them.”

At least four students were hurt during this time. Some students were detained. During this time, commute from Shahbagh to Science Laboratory remained halted until it ended around 1:15pm.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Muhammad Yousuf Ali told The Daily Star that about 13 students were detained on the spot.

The agitating students were from Dhaka College, Eden Mohila College, Government Shaheed Suhrawrdy College, Kabi Nazrul Government College, Begum Badrunnesa Government Mohila College, Mirpur Government Bangla College, and Government Titumir College.

Jamal Uddin Ahmed, a student of Kabi Nazrul, told The Daily Star: “Our families can’t afford to send us money regularly. Because of exam delay, our future has become bleak.”

Later in the afternoon, authorities announced the dates of examinations for the students of the seven government colleges.

DU vice-chancellor and principals of the seven colleges at a meeting decided that the examinations will be held centrally, said IK Selim Ullah Khandaker, secretary general of BCS General Education Association, a platform of teachers and officials belonging to BCS general education cadre.