Rajshahi court acquits all 34 students

A Rajshahi court yesterday acquitted all 34 students of Rajshahi University who were accused in a case for demonstrating against increased monthly fees and commercial evening courses in February 2014. In a case filed with Motihar Police Station, Sub-inspector Masudar Rahman of the same police station accused 45 student leaders and 150 other unnamed students for blasting crude bombs and injuring 25 students during the demonstrations. 

The court of Rajshahi’s additional Metropolitan and Sessions Judge Enayet Kabir Sarker passed the verdict, said public prosecutor of the court Siraji Shawkat Salehin.

According to him, the verdict came as the charges brought against the accused persons could not be proved by the presented evidence and witnesses during the trial.

“Most of the witnesses told the court that they did not see the accused persons getting involved in the demonstrations,” Salehin said.

The accused students were affiliated with different student organisations including Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Chhatra Front, Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra League and Islami Chhatra Shibir.

On February 2, 2014, hundreds of RU students demonstrated in front of the administration building and residence of RU Vice Chancellor, protesting increment of admission and other monthly fees and introduction of evening masters courses for MBA degree, terming those initiatives against the interest of students.

Later, police pressed charges under Explosives Act against 34 of the students.

Police recorded at least four cases including the one filed under explosive law.

With the verdict in the explosives case announced yesterday, trial of three other cases are still underway, the court official said.