BUET students to launch tougher movement

Students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) on Thursday threatened to lock all the gates of its academic and administrative buildings, if the vice-chancellor (VC) does not appear before them on the campus by 2:00 pm today (Friday) to clear his stance on their demands.

The agitating students also threatened that if their demands, placed following the brutal killing of Abrar Fahad, are not met by today, they will launch a tougher movement, as the deadline to meet many of their demands is October 11 (today).

On Thursday, hundreds of students gathered at the BUET Shaheed Minar at 10.00 am on the fourth consecutive day of their demonstration, and two spokespersons on behalf of the students announced these from there.

They also said the BUET admission test, scheduled on October 14, will not take place, if their demands are not met.

Meanwhile, three more students of the BUET were arrested on Thursday in connection with the murder.

They are - Amit Saha, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) BUET unit deputy law secretary from Civil Engineering Department, Mizan, a student of Water Resources Department, and Hossain Md Toha, a student of Mechanical Engineering Department.

On the day, a group of the protesting students performed a metaphor drama on the Abrar's killing. After watching the drama, all the students chanted various slogans throughout the day, demanding justice for the killing.

A second-year student told to FE, "How can the VC stay without meeting us over the issue?"

"There are many torture cells, known as political rooms, in every residential hall. These rooms have long been used by BCL leaders to torture the students, suspected of speaking against or criticising any act of the government," he added.

The students alleged that the administration had not taken any decisive measure on their 10-point demands.

Their demands include ensuring the highest punishment for the killers, permanent expulsion of the identified killers from the BUET within October 11, providing expenditure for conducting the case to the victim's family by the BUET administration, fast conducting of the case under Speedy Trial Tribunal, publishing copy of the charge-sheet officially as soon as possible, and banning student politics on the campus within October 15.

Besides, they also demanded explanation from the VC within 2.00 pm on Wednesday about why he refrained from being present on the campus after 30 hours of the killing and why after coming he left the place without giving proper answers, ending physical and mental tortures on students under the name of ragging, establishing a platform where students can place complaints regarding such tortures so that the authority can take steps immediately, and resignation of the Sher-e-Bangla Hall provost.

On the day, the BUET Teachers' Association presented their written 7-point demands, which were formulated at a meeting on Wednesday.

They also demanded resignation of the VC Prof. Dr. Saiful Islam, and threatened that if he does not resign, they will propose his removal to the government. Their other demands are as same as the students' demands.

On Thursday, hundreds of students of the Dhaka University (DU), led by DU Central Students' Union (DUCSU) vice president (VP) Nurul Huq Nur, also staged demonstration.

They brought out a procession after a protest rally in front of Raju Sculpture that paraded several streets on the DU campus. So far, a total of 16 BUET students have been arrested in connection with the brutal killing.

The detained students include BCL BUET unit general secretary Mehedi Hasan Rasel, its joint general secretary Muhtasim Fuad, organising secretary Mehedi Hasan Robin, information and research affairs secretary Anik Sarkar, deputy social welfare secretary Ifti Mosharraf Shakal, sports secretary Meftahul Islam Xion, publication secretary Ishtiak Munna, Tanvirul Abedin Ethan of Mechanical Engineering Department 16th batch, Muzahidur Rahman Muzahid of Civil Engineering Department 17th batch, Muntasir Alam Jemi of Chemical Engineering Department 18th batch, Moniruzzaman Monir, a third-year student of Water Resources Engineering Department, Akash Hossain, a third-year student of Civil Engineering Department, and Shamsul Arefin Rafat, a second-year student of Mechanical Engineering Department.

Abrar Fahad, a second-year student of EEE Department, was beaten to death by some BCL leaders at the university's Sher-e-Bangla Hall sometime between 8:30 pm Sunday and 2:30 am Monday.

aburakibdu420@gmail com