Protests sweep country

A barrage of protests and condemnations continue to pour in over the attack on acclaimed writer Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, also a teacher of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (Sust).

Students of different universities, and different socio, political and cultural organisations as well as individuals demanded arrest and punishment for the culprits involved in the attack.

Agitating students, teachers and officials of Sust staged daylong programmes on the campus.

At least 3,000 students formed a human chain on the campus at 9:30am followed by other programmes organised by the university officials at 10:30am and by teachers at 11:30am.

General students along with Sammilita Sangskritik Jote brought out a procession on the campus at noon and also collected signatures of people which will be submitted to the government and the university authorities.

The general students demanded that justice be served and security be tightened on the campus.

After a meeting, Sust Sikkhak Samity declared a two-hour work abstention programme to be observed from 11:00am today, said Prof Jahir Uddin Ahmed, proctor of the university and general secretary of the Samity.

Hundreds of teachers and students of Jahangirnagar University (JU), Rajshahi University (RU) and Chittagong University also staged different protest programmes on their respective campuses yesterday.

Meanwhile, Gonojagoron Mancha formed a protest rally in front of the national museum in the capital demanding arrest of the masterminds behind the attack on Prof Zafar Iqbal.

Giving an ultimatum of 24 hours for arresting all the culprits, spokesperson for Gonojagoron Mancha Dr Imran H Sarker said, “The government must disclose the real identity of those involved in the attack, including the arrestee, and whether they have any affiliation with any terrorist group.”

“The attack on Zafar Iqbal is an example of culture of impunity which has been prevailing in the country and thereby prompting repeated attacks on progressive people,” he added.

At the rally, human rights activist advocate Sultana Kamal said Zafar Iqbal is a symbol of non-communalism. He was attacked as his write ups and thoughts were an obstacle for the communal society, she added.

The government should bring the attackers to book to ensure security for progressive people, she added.

In Chittagong, different cultural and professional groups staged rallies demanding arrest of the masterminds behind the incident.

Protesting the attack, Thakurgaon district unit of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad formed a human chain at Thakurgaon Intersection.

Besides, individuals, different socio-cultural and political organisations in Barisal, Cox's Bazar, Manikganj and Pirojpur including Sector Commanders' Forum-Liberation War-71 also condemned the attack.