DU student bodies forge unity against Shibir, Chhatra Mukti
Several student organisations of Dhaka University (DU) have forged unity against the student bodies of religion-based political parties apparently over the issue of quota system in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) examinations.
Several left-leaning student organisations got united and clashed with a group of activists of Bangladesh Chhatra Mukti, the student organisation of Hijbut Tahrir, on the campus yesterday morning when they were circulating leaflets demanding reforms in the quota system. Two students were injured during the clash.
Witnesses said the brief clash took place at around 11:30am after some five activists of the Chhatra Mukti came to Modhu's Canteen to circulate leaflets. The leaders and activists of left-leaning student organisations, including Bangladesh Chhatra Union (BCU), Samajtantrik Chhatra Front (SCF), JSD-backed Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Bangladesh Chhatra Maitree forced them out of the canteen.
Later, a reinforced group of Chhatra Mukti workers returned to Modhu's canteen but ran away soon after the clash erupted. Activists of Awami League-backed BCL also joined the clash and chased the Chhatra Mukti workers.
Chhatra Mukti activist Khalid Rahman Mintu, a third-year student of applied chemistry, and Mainul, reportedly an Islami Chhatra Shibir activist and fourth-year student of Urdu department, were beaten up during the clash. They were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital with head injuries.
The left-leaning student organisations and the BCL alleged that Shibir men are staging a demonstration for the cancellation of the quota system in a bid to destroy the spirit of the liberation war, as there is 30 percent quota for the children of freedom fighters in the BCS exams.
The student leaders also met the vice-chancellor yesterday and demanded a ban on the activities of student organisations of religion-based political parties.
A number of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders from pro-Khaleda faction also called for a meeting of the university's Paribesh Parishad that earlier banned such student bodies.
VC Prof SMA Faiz assured the students that he would sit with the student leaders to decide whether to convene a meeting of the Parishad, the students said.
The Paribesh Parishad, a body comprising representatives of the university authorities and student bodies, was formed in the absence of its Dhaka University Central Students Union.
Meanwhile, the BCU in a press conference said that students drove off the activists of Chhatra Mukti as they attacked the common students inside the Modhu's canteen.
The BCU leaders also alleged that the university administration has made the Paribesh Parishad ineffective.
On the other hand, DU Chhatra Mukti convener Mahfuzur Rahman alleged the left-leaning student organisations launched the attack on them as they were circulating the leaflets.
Meanwhile, a platform styled 'General Students', which first raised the demand for cancellation of BCS quota system, met Regulatory Reforms Commission Chairman Akbar Ali Khan and submitted a memorandum to him, said Muhammad Selim Mia, convener of the platform. Akbar Ali Khan is leading a committee formed by the government to review the quota system.
Tension has been running high on the campus. Additional police forces have been deployed on the campus to avert untoward incidents.
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