RU takes 15-pt step to stop violence on campus

21 April 2009, 18:00 PM

RU Correspondent

Students of Rajshahi University form a human chain at Shaheb Bazar in Rajshahi city yesterday demanding immediate reopening of the university.Photo: STAR

Rajshahi University authorities yesterday imposed restriction on movement of outsiders on the campus as part of the 15-point action policy to keep RU campus violence free. The authorities also asked teachers, officials, students and employees of the university to keep their identity cards with them while on campus. The RU proctorial committee at an emergency meeting yesterday adopted the policy with Proctor Prof Chowdhury Zakaria in the chair. Earlier, the RU authorities at a district administration meeting at Rajshahi circuit house auditorium on Sunday decided to reopen the university within the first week of May. It followed the proctorial body meeting which took the steps to improve law and order on the campus. The meeting also suspended activities of all organisations including student wings of political bodies. It imposed ban on distribution of leaflets or booklets, use of posters and vehicles' entry into the campus. Locals and shop owners who stay on the campus and guardians of the students of RU School and College have been asked to collect passes from the proctor's office. Besides, the visitors and outsiders have to sign register books before entering the campus. The proctor told newsmen yesterday that closed-circuit television cameras have also been installed at different points of the campus. "If we can control the movement of the outsiders, it will be easy to reduce the incidents of violence," he observed. "If anyone violates the order, disciplinary action will be taken against him," Prof Zakaria said. Proctorial committee sources said the university authorities plan to impose restrictions on rallies, processions and political activities of the student bodies on the campus for an indefinite period after reopening of the university. Earlier, on March 13, the RU authorities closed the university indefinitely following a clash between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) in which one Shibir leader was killed and 100 others were injured. Meanwhile, several hundred general students formed a human chain at Shaheb Bazar zero point yesterday in the city demanding immediate reopening of the university. The students earlier brought out a procession and paraded different streets of the city. Later, they held a rally at the same venue where speakers blamed the RU authorities concerned for creating session jam through unscheduled closure. Speakers at the rally demanded immediate arrest and expulsion of the so-called students who were 'destroying the future and academic career of the general students.' They also criticised the imposition of ban on students' procession and rallies on campuses, terming it 'undemocratic and illogical'.