Shibir showdown sparks tension at RU

Outsiders joint meeting at central mosque on campus

10 January 2009, 18:00 PM

RU Correspondent

Tension mounted on Rajshahi University (RU) campus yesterday evening as a large number of Islami Chhatra Shibir activists held a meeting at the central mosque of the university, violating rules of the institution. As Shibir activists from different educational institutions gathered on the campus, panic spread among the general students. Following the meeting, Shibir men made a showdown on the campus and their central leaders instructed their activists for any movement, campus sources said. During the meeting, Shibir central committee President Rezaul Karim, former president Nurul Islam Bulbul, office secretary Sheikh Niamul Karim, former RU Shibir president Mahbubul Alam Salehi, former RU unit president Emaj Uddin Mondol, RU unit President Delwar Hossain Saidee and other unit leaders were present. When contacted, RU Shibir President Delwar Hossain Saidee told this corresponded that they formed their university unit committee in the meeting. Shibir did not take any permission for holding their political meeting at the university mosque, RU Proctor Enamul Haque said. “No organisation can held political meeting at the mosque. We will investigate the matter,” he said. Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and different student organisations at RU strongly criticised Shibir for holding their political meeting at the university mosque. BCL RU unit President Ibrahim Hossain Moon called on the university authorities and demanded steps to stop use of mosque for political purposes. He also demanded punishment of the people responsible for holding political meeting at the mosque. During the last few days, activists of Shibir and BCL involved in several clashes over dominion on Rajshahi University campus. During the five years of past BNP-Jammat-led four-party alliance government, students belonging to progressive organisations faced the wrath of Shibir men who were out to maintenance at RU.