HC asks for reports on RU cop firing

In this February 2 photo, two students of Rajshahi University take their fellow who sustains injuries during police firing at a demonstration of the students. Photo: STAR

The High Court today ordered the police authorities to submit reports in seven days on firing gunshots at the students at Rajshahi University two months ago.

In response to a writ petition, the court also issued a rule upon the government to explain in four weeks under which authority police had opened fire at the students of the campus on February 2 this year.

Police and executive magistrates concerned have to submit three separate reports to the higher authorities about reasons of the police firing as per the police regulations.

The HC bench of Justice Mirza Hossain Haider and Justice Mohammad Khurshid Alam Sarker came up with the order and rule after the petition was filed by 12 eminent citizens challenging the legality of firing on the RU students.

Home secretary, inspector general of police (IGP), commissioner of Rajshahi police and officer-in-charge (OC) of Motihar Police Station have been made respondents to the rule.

On February 2, police fired rubber bullets and teargas shells at the students fleeing an armed onslaught by Bangladesh Chhatra League activists, leaving over 100 students injured.
The students were protesting evening master’s programmes and hike in some fees.