Tension mounts at RU amid BCL-Shibir face-off

VC holds closed-door meeting with deans, police officials

6 January 2009, 18:00 PM

RU Correspondent

Amid escalating tension between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir on the campus, Rajshahi University (RU) acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat yesterday held a closed-door meeting with faculty deans, high officials of local administration and police at his office. As the meeting discussed overall campus situation, especially security of teachers, students and officials on the campus, the law enforcement agency officials assured the university authorities of beefing up security measures and remaining alert to stave off any unwanted situation. BCL activists yesterday morning removed all 'illegal' banners of Islami Chhatra Shibir in front of boys' dormitories, central library, administrative building and other places on Rajshahi University campus. Earlier, Shibir activists had removed banners of other organisations in front of boys' halls and different entry points on the campus and hung banners and boards of their organisation there. A group of BCL activists also staged a showdown on the campus yesterday and started hunting for Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders and activists on the campus. Following the BCL move, apparently to avenge JCD men's attack and torture on BCL men at different halls and on the campus on different occasions in the past, many JCD supporters left the campus. Panic spread among the general students as the campus situation became tense. Earlier on Monday night, BCL activists staged demonstration on the campus and chanted slogans against Shibir, campus sources said. Following the demonstration by BCL, Shibir activists locked the main gates at a few residential halls and took position inside, allegedly joined by outsiders. A tense situation has been prevailing on the campus for a couple of days due to the confrontation between BCL and Shibir activists. When contacted, RU BCL President Ibrahim Hossain Moon said, “BCL activists removed illegal banners set by Shibir from the campus.” RU acting Registrar Prof Muhammad Shafi, Proctor Enamul Haque, Science Faculty Dean Prof Abul Hashem and Social Science Faculty Dean Prof Sadekul Islam were also present at yesterday's meeting at the office of RU acting vice chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat. “We discussed recent campus unrest situation and our security measure in the meeting,” said Zahangir Hossain, Assistant Commissioner of Police. RU acting VC Prof Mamnunul Keramat, however, said it was a routine discussion about campus matter.