No tribute for Piash at Shaheed Minar: DU

Piash Karim

Dhaka University authorities rejected the application to take Piash Karim’s body to Central Shaheed Minar on Friday for a citizen tribute.
“We have rejected the application of Piash Karim’s family to hold a citizen tribute at the Shaheed Minar on Friday as another organisation was allowed earlier to hold its programme there on the same day and Saturday,” Amzad Ali, acting proctor of the university, told The Daily Star this evening.
The university received an application from Piash’s family last night that sought permission to take his body at the Shaheed Minar, he said.   
But Muktijoddha Sangsad Command, a cultural organisation has been given permission to hold its street plays and exhibition on the day, Amzad added.
Earlier, several student organisations in the afternoon announced they would resist any move to take the body of Piash Karim at the Shaheed Minar.
Chhatra Sangram Parishad, a platform of seven student bodies, announced the resistance programme at a press conference at Madhu's Canteen of Dhaka University this afternoon.
Piash Karim, a professor of Brac University and a regular television talk-show participant, breathed his last at a hospital in the capital on Monday.
Hours after his death, Karim's family at a press briefing at Jatiya Press Club on Wednesday said they would take the body to Shaheed Minar around 10:00am on Friday that triggers widespread anger and criticism from different parts of citizens.
However, the leaders and activists of the student organisations today announced to take positions at Shaheed Minar at 9:00am on Friday to obstruct any such initiative.
Speaking at the press conference, Bangladesh Chhatra League (JSD) President Muhammad Shamsul Islam Sumon told reporters that a certain anti-liberation portion has moved to take the body of “so-called” intellectual to the Shaheed Minar, raising controversy and anger among pro-liberation forces.
A member of war criminal family, his father MA Karim was peace committee leader in Comilla, he said.
“He also expressed his loyalty to Pakistan… Piash also propagandized falsehood against the government action against the aggressive Hefajat-e-Islami activists,” Sumon said.
Piash Karim's body is kept at the mortuary of Square Hospital.