Shibir-led student alliance calls hartal in greater Ctg today

CHITTAGONG, Jan 25: The four-party student alliance, led by Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) of Chittagong University (CU) will enforce dawn-to-dusk hartal in greater Chittagong tomorrow protesting arrest of its 54 leaders and activists from four dormitories of the university last night.

Police picked up 91 Shibir activists including two journalists of The Daily Janata and The Daily Dinkal during a raid in AF Rahman Hall, Alawal Hall, Suhrawardy Hall and Shaheed Abdur Rob Hall at around 2:30 am today. Of them, 37 were released this morning.

Meanwhile, Chhatra Shibir and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) declared five-point and six-point agitation programme respectively at separate press conferences today at their party offices in the city.

They also threatened to go for greater agitation for removal of VC and Pro-VC if their demands were not met by January 31.

The programme for removal of the VC and Pro-VC is expected to be announced at a joint meeting at Laldighi Maidan on January 31.

Shibir also threatened to extend tomorrow's hartal if their arrested leaders and activists were not released within 24 hours.

Earlier, Convenor of the Liaison committee Prof Abdus Salam submitted his resignation letter to CU authority. Prof Salam is a teacher of BNP-Jamaat backed White panel. The White panel backed teachers supported the four-party student alliance.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) captured Shahid Abdur Rob Hall this morning after police raid.

Shibir continued its siege programme on Chittagong university campus for eleventh day today. Academic and administrative activities were disrupted during the siege. No shuttle train or teachers' bus plied between the campus and the city.