Face-off at Dhaka University campus
Muktijuddho Moncho, Chhatra Adhikar Parishad call coinciding programmes
Activists of Muktijuddho Moncho and Bangladesh Sadharan Chhatra Adhikar Sangrakkhan Parishad faced off on Dhaka University campus yesterday, as the two organisations called separate programmes at the same venue at the same time.
Muktijuddho Moncho called a protest rally demanding Ducsu Vice-president Nurul Haque Nur’s removal from his post over graft allegations, while the other organisation, which led the quota reform protests, announced a demonstration protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of India at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture at 12pm.
Witnesses said, around 60 activists of the Moncho led by its President Aminul Islam Bulbul and General Secretary Al Mamun took position in advance around the venue.
As soon as a procession led by Nur reached the area, the Moncho activists started shouting slogans and moved to Raju Memorial Sculpture.
Parishad activists also took position at the base and shouted counter slogans, and a heated exchange between the groups ensued.
Some members of proctorial team asked both groups to leave the spot but none paid heed.
Later, Muktijuddho Moncho activists left the spot complying with the request -- from two assistant proctors -- of not holding any protest at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture.
After staying there for nearly half an hour, Nur and his associates brought out a procession from the spot which went through DU campus, Press Club and Shahbagh areas.
Over 100 Moncho activists, this time equipped with iron rods and sticks, followed the procession to Shaheed Minar area and went back to Madhur Canteen area afterwards.
In another development, Nur filed a complaint with Shahbagh Police Station against 30-35 activists of the Muktijuddho Moncho while Al Mamun, general secretary of the Moncho, filed another with the same police station against Nur.
Talking to The Daily Star, Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Shahbagh Police Station, said, “Both groups filed complaints. As it is a university related matter, we will take further steps after talking to the proctor.”
On Tuesday, At least 15 people, including Nur, were injured in a clash between the two organisations after some Moncho members swooped on Parishad activists when the latter gathered at the base of Raju Memorial Sculpture for a rally protesting the Citizenship (Amendment) Act of India.