No classes at CU, BCL men torch teachers' bus

Academic activities of Chittagong University could not be resumed yesterday due to violent protest during the indefinite strike programme of Bangladesh Chhatra League.
Meanwhile, BCL activists set fire to a teachers' bus of CU near Sholoshahar area in the morning and also halted the movement of university bound shuttle trains and public vehicles to resist the students from going to the campus.
Police in separate drives in the city yesterday arrested eight BCL activists in connection with setting the teachers' bus ablaze.
Panchlaish police arrested six persons--Rubel, Ershad, Khorshed Alam, Nizamul Alam, Subal Das and Nur Mohammad while Khulshi police arrested Alauddin and Anwar Hossain.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Rezaul Masud said four of the arrestees were activists of BCL CU unit while others were of BCL city unit.
Witnesses said a group of BCL men torched the bus near Baby Super Market at about 6:30am. On information, fire fighters rushed in and doused the flame.
BCL on Friday called the strike at CU protesting the death of their activist Asaduzzaman, a second-year student of Accounting Department, on April 16, who was allegedly stabbed by neighbouring villagers following an altercation at Pahela Baishakh festival Thursday night.
The CU authorities yesterday were set to resume academic activities after suspending all classes and exams for three days since April 17 following the death of Asaduzzaman.
The demonstrators halted movement of shuttle trains at the Chittagong Railway Station to press home their five-point demand including resignation of the vice-chancellor and the proctor of the university for their failure to give security to the students.
Regarding damage of teachers' bus, the CU VC Professor Yusuf blamed a small faction of BCL CU unit led by its general secretary Ershad Hossain for creating anarchy in the campus in the name of strike.
“Ershad and a few of his fellows had sought 50 stalls at the recently held three-day long Baishakhi Mela on the campus to do business but I didn't allow it,” the VC said adding that they might have resented at this.
Contacted, Ershad refuted the allegation and termed it 'completely false'.
Regarding setting fire to a teachers' bus Ershad said BCL activists had no involvement in such activities.
BCL CU unit leaders in a statement yesterday vowed to continue the strike till resignation of the VC.