DU students split over metro rail route

Two groups of students of Dhaka University submitted memorandums to the vice chancellor yesterday, one endorsing the government's plan to build the metro rail route through the campus and the other affiliated with Bangladesh Chhatra Union protesting it. 

Before submitting the memorandum, some non-resident students who travel in the university's Chaitali, Boishakhi and Khonika buses formed a human chain at the Raju sculpture in favour of the government plan. A few leaders of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) were seen at the human chain.

When asked, BCL's DU unit general secretary Motahar Hossain Prince said they wanted the route going through the campus, and they would hold programmes on behalf of BCL in a few days.

Addressing the programme, Khonika bus committee general secretary Moniruzzaman Bahar said, "We will be able to attend classes in time as the metro rail will relieve us of the awful traffic jams."

On the other hand, Chhatra Union brought out a procession and demanded shifting of the route.

Liton Nondi, president of DU unit Chhatra Union, said the government had ignored the national historic preservation act by planning the route through the campus.

After submitting the memorandum, Chhatra Union activists staged a sit-in in front of the VC's office.

Meanwhile, general students will hold a solidarity rally at the Raju sculpture on January 20 to drum up public support against building of the rail on the campus.

But non-resident students have scheduled another rally on the same day and at the same venue in opposition.    

As per the government plan, the 20.1km Mass Rapid Transit Line-6 will run from Uttara to Motijheel. Two stations will be built on the campus -- at Shahbagh and near Doyel Chattar.