Abrar Murder BUET protesters to continue boycott of classes, exams
The protesting students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology on Tuesday announced to continue boycotting all academic activities which rolled into thirteen consecutive days to press for fulfilment of their demands following the murder of their fellow student Abrar Fahad.
Antara Tithi, a fourth-year student of mechanical engineering, made the announcement reading out a statement before the at the university’s Shaheed Minar on Tuesday afternoon.
The students said they would continue their boycott of classes and examinations until the charge sheet in Abrar murder case was framed and those involved in the killing were permanently expelled from the university and their other demands were met.
They said they would make it sure that justice was served to Abrar if it costs sacrificing their own academic career.
Following the murder, the protesting BUET students placed 10-point demands that include rustication of the killers of Abrar from the university, capital punishment to them, compensation to Abrar’s family, bearing the expenses for running the case, speedy trial of the case, making the charge sheet public, rustication from the university of all those involved in torturing students in the past and banning organisation-based student politics at the university.
The students also said 13 days already elapsed after they called off their demonstrations and BUET authorities could met their demands by this time but there was lack of coordination though the university authorities were sincere till now.
They said they would again sit with the university vice-chancellor, if needed.
The protesters also threatened to wage tougher movement if the administration failed to meet their demands.
Abrar, a second-year student of electrical and electronic engineering at the university, was tortured to death by a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders at Sher-e-Bangla Hall on October 7, allegedly for his critical views on social media over the recently signed deals between Bangladesh and India.
On October 16, protesters announced to continue their boycott of classes and examinations until the charge sheet on the killing of Abrar was submitted and those involved in the killing were permanently expelled from the university before capping their 11-day-long field agitation.
In the face of the student agitation, the BUET authorities issued five separate notices announcing a ban on organisation-based politics on the campus, conducting drives against illegal occupants at the university dorms and sealing off the student organisation offices at the university, introducing a web portal where students could file complaints about any kind of abuse.
Detective branch of police additional deputy commissioner Razib Al Masud on Monday said so far they had arrested 21 suspects in the killing and 16 of them were named in the first information report filed by the Abrar’s father.
Of the suspects, eight made statements before metropolitan magistrates.
However, vacation for Durga Puja and examination preparatory leave at the university ended on October 20 but the university authorities could not announce examination schedule due to ongoing stalemate at the university.
News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net
