Strike observed at DU over cop assault on anti-Rampal activists

Pragatishil Chhatra Jote went on strike, which it called on Saturday, at Dhaka University yesterday protesting the police attack on pro-Sundarbans activists and journalists during Thursday's shutdown protesting Rampal power plant.

Most of the classes at Arts Building and Social Science Building were abandoned as the activists of the alliance of left-leaning student bodies put both buildings under lock and key. But they let some departments hold examinations.

After a rally at Aparajeya Bangla, where the police “brutality” was condemned, they paraded around the campus.

During the countrywide hartal on Thursday, more than 20 people, including two journalists, were injured as police attacked pickets, fired teargas shells and rubber bullets, sprayed hot water using water cannon and charged baton.

During the pro-strike march, the activists faced impediment where scuffles took place with some students.

“Chhatra League activists kicked, punched and pushed us leaving our one leader injured,” said Salman Siddique, general secretary of DU unit of Socialist Students' Front.

However, denying the allegation, BCL DU unit president Abid Al Hasan told The Daily Star, “As their strike was failed, they brought such allegations without any evidence. General students hindered their procession, not BCL men.”

The alliance coordinator Iqbal Kabir said, “Strikes were also observed at various educational institutions including Jagannath University, Dhaka College and Eden Mohila College.”