RU students recall 2007 'repression'

Rajshahi University's Progressive Students Alliance, a platform of left-leaning student bodies, yesterday observed "Student-Teacher Repression Day", marking the countrywide atrocities on them from August 20 to 23 in 2007 during the military-backed caretaker government rule.

They also protested the recent killings of blogger Niladri Chattopadhayay Niloy and some children, and demanded exemplary punishment for the murderers. Over 100 leaders and activists of the alliance brought out a procession on the campus, demanding withdrawal of the two cases against 13 RU students, which were filed during that time by DGFI and the university administration over arson and vandalism.

Staging a rally at Tukitaki Chattar, the alliance demanded punishment for the law enforcers who attacked RU students and picked up teachers during the period.

On August 20, 2007, army personnel beat up three students of Dhaka University centring about an altercation, sparking protests across the country's universities.

RU unit Chhatra Front President Alamgir Hossain Sujon and Chhatra Federation President Faruk Emon addressed the rally.

The protesters also demanded scrapping of Section 57 of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, saying it would curb the right to free speech.