Slew of protests demand arrest, expulsion

Teachers, students and political and cultural organisations yesterday staged protests demanding expulsion and arrest of a Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader of Rajshahi University (RU) unit who beat a cultural activist unconscious and left him with a fractured right shinbone.

With his leg plastered, Basudev Roy, a former president of RU Kendrio Sangskritik Jote doing his master's degree in psychology, needs around one month to recover as per Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Basudev told The Daily Star that a window he opened in Silsila Restaurant on the campus on Tuesday evening bumped the BCL RU assistant secretary, Saddam Hossain Sajib, sitting outside on the head.

Also a Teacher-Student Cultural Centre (TSCC) governing body member, Basudev added that Saddam beat him even after he apologised.

The accused third year law student on Tuesday admitted beating Basudev, but said it was after the latter slapped him.

Some 100 activists of the jote brought out a procession around 10:30am, staged a two-hour sit-in in front of the administrative building, lodged a complaint at the proctor's office and handed over to Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin a memorandum, which also demanded ensuring security.

At the sit-in, joined by teachers, Sammilito Sangskritik Jote and Bangladesh Group Theatre, Rajshahi, the jote threatened "tougher programmes" if the arrest was notmade within their 24-hour deadline.

Imran Hossain, a teacher of accounting and information systems department, said such attacks recurred as perpetrators of similar past incidents were not handed down exemplary punishment.

Progressive Students Alliance, a platform of four left leaning student bodies, brought out another procession around 1:00pm.

Statements were also issued by the Rajshahi University Association of Law Finders; Rajshahi University Journalist Association; Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation and Biplobi Chhatra Moitree of RU unit; Rajshahi University Drama Association; and TSCC Director Prof TMM Nurul Moddaser Chowdhury.

The VC said the guilty would be expelled. Police said they were trying to arrest Saddam while Basudev plans lodging a complaint with Motihar Police Station.