HC wants to know RU firing probe progress

In this February 1 photo, over 5,000 students of Rajshahi University gather at a protest rally at Shabash Bangladesh play grounds on the campus demanding immediate withdrawal of hiked fees and cancellation of evening master’s courses.

The High Court today asked the deputy attorney general to inform it whether any committee was formed to investigate into the incident of police firing on general students at Rajshahi University campus during their peaceful movement on February 2.

While hearing a writ petition, the court also wanted to know whether any case was filed against the alleged political activists who also shot at the students during the demonstration on that day.

Deputy Attorney General Al Amin Sarkar will have to provide the information in a week to the HC bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Muhammad Khurshid Alam Sarkar.

After passing the order, the bench adjourned the hearing on the writ petition for a week.

Fourteen eminent citizens including Professor Akmal Hossain of Dhaka University and rights activist Khushi Kabir of Nizera Kori have filed the petition with the HC on February 18 challenging the legality of firing on the RU students.

The petition was filed since the government authorities did not respond to a legal notice served on February 11 seeking explanation of the police action.

On February 2, over 100 RU students were injured as police fired rubber bullets at students, who were demonstrating demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision of fee hike and for continuing the evening master's programmes.