July 8 Hostel Arson
MC College reopens tomorrow
Cops to be deployed today; students block highway demanding normalcy on the campus, compensation
After a seven-week closure since the July 8 arson, Sylhet's MC College will reopen tomorrow.
The authorities took the decision yesterday on consultation with the education minister, the city mayor, and the administrative officials, said Principal Dhiresh Chandra Sarker.
Police will be deployed at the college from today to check untoward incidents, said Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP).
Meanwhile, about a hundred students yesterday blocked the Sylhet-Tamabil highway in front of the college for an hour, demanding normalcy on the campus and compensation for the damages caused by the arson attack.
On July 8, a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Jubo League activists allegedly burned down about 200 rooms of the hostel after clashing with Islami Chhatra Shibir activists, which left some 20 people injured.
Almost two months on since the attack, no measure has yet been taken against the culprits. Police also have made no arrests despite the directives of the finance and education ministers, who had asked for arrest of the culprits irrespective of their political link.
Following the arson, five cases were filed--two by BCL, one by Jubo League, one by Chhatra Shibir, and one by the hostel superintendent.
Three probe committees are investigating the incident. Though given repeated extensions of time, they are yet to submit their reports allegedly for "political reasons", as most of the accused include frontliners of the ruling party backed student and youth bodies.
At its monthly crime meeting yesterday, SMP discussed the college's situation and asked the officials concerned to lay stress on investigations of the cases.
Deputy Commissioner of SMP (South) Ejaj Ahmed, chief of the five-member police investigation committee, said their probe was almost complete. The report would be filed very soon, he added.
Additional District Magistrate Md Shahidul Alam, who is heading another five-member probe body, said they had interviewed 50 persons, including the college staff and the hostel super. Submission of the report is being delayed for some reasons, he said, but did not elaborate on them.
Shahidul Alam also said the administrative probe body could not dig in deeply, and police investigation was the solution.
Denying the allegation of police inaction, SMP Additional Commissioner Abdullah Al-Azad Chowdhury said the police investigation was proceeding steadily. Asked about filing of cases by the BCL and Shibir activists, he said all the cases were being investigated thoroughly.
A third investigation committee was formed by the college authorities. The five-member body is headed by MC College Vice Principal Al Helal Bhuiyan.
Meanwhile, Sylhet's people and different social organisations, irrespective of their political affiliations, have been demanding proper actions against the crime of burning down the century-old structure.
Human chain and rallies have been held in demand of the arrest of the culprits. The organisations also have handed over memorandums to the prime minister and the education minister through the deputy commissioner (DC).
Ex-students, political leaders and social organisations have demanded immediate and tough action against the ruling party backed activists for the attack.
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