RU Shibir enforces strike against cultural activists
Shibir activists take position after locking the gate of Rajshahi University central library during the strike enforced by them yesterday.Photo: STAR
Islami Chhatra Shibir yesterday enforced a daylong strike on Rajshahi University (RU) campus amid alleged inaction by police. Earlier on Tuesday, Shibir activists under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj' of RU called the student strike on the campus demanding punishment of cultural activists for staging a 'drama against' Prophet Mohammad (SM). Hundreds of Shibir activists under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj' went to science, arts, commerce faculty buildings, central library, dean offices and administrative building and forcibly closed the main gates in presence of police yesterday morning. Shibir activists took position at different points including the administrative building and asked officers, employees and students to leave the campus. Due to the situation, university officials and employees could not enter the administrative building while classes and scheduled examinations could not be held. Shibir cadres moved around the campus on motorbikes, creating panic among the teachers and students. Law enforcers taking position at the entrances of faculty buildings and different offices on the campus remained inactive during the strike enforced by Shibir. At around 2:00pm, the Shibir activists held a meeting on the premises of administrative building amid police presence. Speakers at the meeting warned of tough agitation programme against the university authorities if cultural activists are not punished. Teachers, officials and general students strongly criticised university authorities and police administration for not taking any action against the Shibir activists who enforced strike on the campus. “We had nothing to do, as university authorities did not give us any direction about the students' strike,” MKH Zahangir Hossain, assistant commissioner of police in Motihar Zone, told newsman. When contacted, acting RU Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat, told this correspondent, “Now I am staying in Dhaka. After my return to the campus, action will be taken against the responsible students who called strike."
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