Shibir showdown triggers tension on RU campus

Police deployed: BCL says they 'restored' seats to allottees

5 January 2009, 18:00 PM

RU Correspondent

Tension mounted on Rajshahi University campus yesterday as Islami Chhatra Shibir activists, driven out from Mother Bux Hall on the night before, staged a big showdown by gathering outsiders and madrasa students on the campus. The showdown created panic among students, many of whom claimed that Shibir activists had so long been occupying their dormitory seats illegally by force. Police in large numbers have been deployed at every boys' hostel and on the campus to stave away further violence, Assistant Commissioner of Police Zahangir Hossain said. Yesterday morning, Shibir activists of the university, joined by party men from outside and madrasa students, brought out a big procession on the campus, chanting slogans against BCL activists and held a rally. At the rally, Shibir leaders threatened to resist BCL men if they 'try to occupy' Shibir rooms at different male students' halls. They said, after Awami League's polls victory, BCL activists are attacking Shibir men in Rajshahi and elsewhere in the country but the administration and police are not taking any steps. Many Shibir activists were also injured in the attacks, they claimed. They said the 'unruly' BCL men are attacking them on campuses and outside without any provocation only to create an unwanted situation in the country. The government and the ruling party will be responsible for this, they added. They also asked Shibir men to resist BCL attacks. Earlier on Sunday night, BCL activists at Mother Bux Hall occupied seats 'allotted' to them and general students earlier by removing Shibir activists. They claimed that Shibir men had occupied rooms of BCL men and students. After occupying the rooms, BCL activists gave some of those to students who were allotted those earlier by the hall authorities. Campus sources said, on Sunday night, BCL activists also chased Shibir men and damaged their party posters, banners, billboards at Mother Box Hall. Following the incident, armed Shibir activists at other halls of the university, allegedly joined by outsiders, locked the main gates and took position inside. They were looking for BCL activists, who left the hostels immediately after the incident fearing reprisal. But BCL activists were preparing to stage a comeback, triggering tension on the campus. When contacted, RU BCL president Ibrahim Hossain Moon said, “Our men have restored many seats to allottees”.