TONU RAPE, MURDER : Student strike observed

Protests continued across the country while students observed strike at educational institutions on Sunday and announced that they would besiege the home ministry on Thursday for immediate arrest of rapists and killers of Comilla college student Sohagi Jahan Tonu as the police were yet to arrest any suspect.
Criminal Investigation Department special superintendent Abdul Kahar Akand on Sunday interrogated a son of a junior commissioned officer stationed in Comilla Cantonment.
Without detailing, CID special superintendent Nazmul Karim Khan said that they were interrogating the son of the JCO to get leads as to who were responsible for the crimes.
A writ petition was filed by Supreme Court lawyer Eunus Ali Akond on Sunday seeking a High Court directive on the government to arrest the perpetrators in 24 hours and form a judicial probe body to investigate the incident.
The 19-year-old girl, Tonu, also a second year history student at Comilla Government Victoria College and a theatre activist, was raped and murdered inside Mainamati Cantonment in Comilla on March 20.
Ganajagaran Mancha spokesperson Imran H Sarker on Sunday alleged that analysing the incidents after Tonu killing, it was assumed that the perpetrators were being sheltered by powerful quarters.
‘The attempt to save the perpetrators would be damage the country’s image,’ he said at a programme of signature collection Ganajagaran Mancha at the Dhaka University for justice for Tonu.
Progressive Students’ Alliance and Samrajyabad Birodhi Chhatra Oikya on Sunday issued a four-day ultimatum to the government to arrest the perpetrators or they would lay siege to the home ministry on Thursday.
The students observed strike at Dhaka University, Islamic University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, Eden Women’s College, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and other public and private universities. No classes and examinations were held during the strike, reports New Age correspondents.
At a rally at Madhu’s Canteen at Dhaka University, Progressive Students’ Alliance leader Ashraful Alam Shohel said that if the government obstructed their protests, they would go for tougher movement.
Bangladesh Chhatra Union also called a nationwide students’ strike for today protesting against the incident.
At a rally in front of Dhaka University arts building, Chhatra Union leaders said that law enforcers failed to make any progress in the investigation into killing inside a restricted area despite 14 days had passed.
New Age correspondent in Sylhet reported that Pragatishil Chhatra Jote on Sunday observed strike at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology.
Classes were not held on the campus though examinations were out of the purview of the strike, campus sources said.
The student leaders also announced that students would wear black-badges, bring out a procession
and hold a rally on the campus on Pahela Baishakh, first day of the Bangla Calendar, to press home the demand.
New Age correspondent in Chittagong reported the Chittagong University students observed strike on Sunday demanding justice for Tonu.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net