Ruet closed amid tension

Aziz Khan Sajib

Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) was declared closed for 13 days to avoid tensions following the death of a BCL leader yesterday.
Aziz Khan Sajib, 25, an organising secretary of Ruet's Zia Hall unit BCL, earlier suffered critical injuries to his head and chest in an attack by the cadres of a rival faction centring a previous feud.
Sajib, also a fourth year student of civil engineering department, succumbed to his injures at Habib Clinic in Savar on the outskirts of the capital at 3:00am yesterday after fighting for his life for three days.
To avoid further violence inside campus, the Ruet authorities in an emergency meeting yesterday noon had decided to close the institution till March 29.
The authorities also asked the male students to vacate their dormitories by 5:00pm yesterday and female students by 12:00 noon today.
According to sources, Munna, president of Selim Hall unit BCL, along with 10 to 12 other party activists severely beat up Sajib and Rony Islam with iron rods and sticks at the university cafeteria on Monday following a previous feud.
Earlier, Sajib and Rony were involved in an altercation with Munna, Rajib and Palash in support of some of their friends over selecting a spot for a tour of the electronics and engineering department.
Injured Sajib and Rony were first admitted to Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital on Monday. They were later shifted to Pangu Hospital in the capital on Tuesday.
As the condition of Sajib began to deteriorate, he was rushed to Habib Clinic near his village home at Palashbari on Thursday where he died yesterday.
The Ruet authorities also formed a three-member probe committee to investigate Sajib's death.
Earlier on Wednesday, a case was filed in this connection with Motihar Police Station accusing 20 BCL men.
“We will take stern actions against the killers according to the findings of the probe committee,” said Ruet Vice Chancellor Prof Sirajul Karim Chowdhury.
Sajib's body was later taken to Manikganj Sadar Hospital for an autopsy.