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What is happening in Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology? Part I - Ajoy Roy ".....On hearing the police crack down on the hunger-striking students I rushed to the BUET campus at around 5 p.m. I could not proceed across Shaheed Minar. Hundreds of police cordoned the Shaheed Minar Road that leads to BUET campus. No one was allowed to pass through the barricade. The area was smoked with tear gas- I myself felt some irritation in my eyes. I bought a bottle of water and refreshed my eyes. This reminds me those days of 52 – and 54- language movement...... " The Bangladesh University of
Engineering and Technology, popularly known as BUET has been closed sine die.
This is the second time BUET authority in collusion with government of Begum
Khaleda had to close down the university against a popular movement of the
common students of the university. First time, the BUET authority was forced to close down the university to curb the popular movements of the students launched against the university authority demanding the arrest of the culprits involved in the armed clash over tender between two rival groups of BNP armed cadres. The armed clash took place on 8th June which ultimately led to the sad killing of an innocent student named Sabekun Nahar Sony, a student of Chemical Technology, in the cross fire. The students revolted and launched a movement demanding immediate expulsion of the culprits and handing over them to the police. The authority of the university instead of responding to the demand of the students tried to protect the culprits, led by the armed cadre of BNP named Muji; 'Muki' is a terror and the university authority is very much afraid of him as he enjoys the blessings of the ruling party. It is alleged that DSW (Director Student Welfare) who is supposed to look after the welfare of the students has been looking after the interest of the alleged culprits involved in Sonny killing event He is learnt to have commented that as Muki belongs to party in power the university authority cannot touch him! The students forcibly confined three accomplices of Muki in a room at Rashid Hall on 8th June night. But with the help of the DSW they managed to escape from the hall of residence. Being afraid of the movement, the university authority closed down the university on 9th June. The authority asked the students to vacate the campus immediately; in fact they were driven out of the campus and hall of residences within an hour or so. Such is the inhuman attitude an unsympathetic behaviour the students got from the BUET administration. Constitution of Enquiry committee During the closure of the
university the BUET administration constituted an enquiry committee to go
unveil the facts that led to the killing of Sony. The committee issued show
cause notices to the students whom the thought were involved. But the notice
were not published in any national dailies was widely circulated among the
general students. The letter sent to different students wanted to know on the
event of Sonny killing and events before and after Sonny-killing. The witness
giving students alleged that members of the committee were more interested
about the movement and students associated with the movement and who are
leading it rather than identifying the culprits or the event itself. The
members were harsh to the students, unsympathetic. Their very attitude is to
stop the movement of the students demanding arrest and trial of the culprits.
The committee found Muki and few others of his associates guilty, but it also
found 10 others students guilty for indulging anti social and anti-academic
activities before and after killing of Sony. The details of punishment given
to these students are as follows:
The academic council of the
university in its meeting (20. 07. 02) endorsed the recommendations of the
committee. The council also resolved the following banning so called students'
politics and many social activities: (i). The
students are henceforth banned- holding meetings, assemblies & taking part
in processions. To declare any programme, giving slogans, distributions
of leaflets, displaying or sticking posters, writing on walls etc. are totally
banned within in the campus. If they violate any directives given here or
found to indulge in those activities, the students are liable to be punished
according to University Ordinance. (ii). As per laws, rules and regulations of the ordinance the students cannot become a member or participate in any activities of a political party or its front organizations, except those of those organizations approved by the university administration such as Students Central Union or Hall unions and departmental associations. The students have to observe strictly the rules and regulations (s) as prescribed in the University Ordinance and if the do contrary to it, they are liable to be punished under the law(s) of the ordinance. (iii). In view of the present
prevailing situation obtaining in the university all
activities of the Central Students' Union, Hall unions, clubs/societies run by
the students are totally banned until farther notice. (iv). For the sake of
security students, teachers and employees of the university have to wear ID
cards constantly. The Hall authority even
imposed restriction of one student of a particular hall entering another hall.
Even within a hall a student cannot stay in another room. All these
restrictions al though seem ridiculous, are being imposed to control students
politics. Can one think that this is a
university campus where adult and matured students come for studying and not a
prison? Movement begins Under this backdrop, after
about two months the university reopened for classes on 11th
August. The conscious students of the campus rejected the findings of the
enquiry committee and the prescription of behaviour of students. The students
organized themselves under the banner 'Anti Terrorism BUET Students Unity'
(Santras Birodhi Buet Chhatra Oikya) and launched a fresh movement
against the university authority demanding the withdrawal of punishment given
to the students who protested against the university administration's failure
to curb terrorism, restore the academic atmosphere of the university in the
campus and protect life and security of the students. The Students unity also
demanded repeal of University Ordinance of 1961 that is still in vogue calling
it as black law. A BUET teacher, keeping himself anonymous, told that the
restrictions imposed on the students is to create panic among the students so
that they do indulge themselves in non-academic, more particularly political
activities. The teacher however said that would very likely be a boomerang. The progressive teachers are
very afraid of themselves and dare not speak out their mind. They are so
afraid that cannot come forward to the cause of the students. As a result the
repressive authority fearlessly is using the clauses of black laws against the
students. And authority is claiming that its actions did have support of the
teachers and common students at large. On the other hand the pro-government
teachers are alleged to have threatening the common students that if they were
found to violate the restrictions and abstain from classes their academic
career would be ruined. On the very day of opening on
11th August the students lunched their 2nd phase of
movement. Here is the chronology of the movement: · The students held an assembly demanding to bring the killers to justice and withdrawal of punishment followed by angry protest processions in which hundreds of boys and girls participated. This annoyed the university administration. The authority responded by giving effect in a meeting of the academic council to the previously suspended expulsion orders. One may ask are the members of the academic council really teachers. Why not a single voice of protest is heard. I feel ashamed to call them as my esteem colleagues. The authority brought substantial number of police forces, which almost kept, surrounded the BUET campus. The protesting students alleged that the authority has not cancelled the B.Sc. degree of the alleged killer Muki, so mere expulsion would not do any good. Two other alleged killers were given very minor punishment. On the other hand the authority has expelled a protesting boy named Subrata Sarkar, a 3rd year student of Architecture, for two terms permanently. The general students resent very much of the attitude of the authority by putting the killers and the protesting boys on the same balance. This enraged even the common students. ·
12. 08. 02 The BUET students once again brought out protest processions after forming a human chain in which hundreds of general students took part displaying posters and placards that demanded trial of killing of sonny. · 13. 08. 02 The students of BUET under the banner of 'Anti Terrorism BUET Students Unity' gave 3-day ultimatum to the BUET authority to meet their 7-point charter of demands. If the administration does not respond positively they would lunch a fresh movement from 17th August. They would also hold an assembly at the central Shaheed Minar. Two students of chemical technology alleged that their departmental teachers threatened them not to participate in the movement. The teachers threatened the participating students that if they do not stop the movement severe consequences awaits them, alleged a group of leaders of the movement. · 15. 08. 02 A protest rally was held
yesterday (14. 09. 02) in which intellectuals and professionals expressed
their solidarity with students of BUET. The assembly was held under incessant
rain. The police did not allow any loudspeakers and they snatched away twice.
The students heard from the intellectuals and university teachers notable
among whom were: Professor Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Professor Ajoy Roy, Zahid
Hasan Choudhury, Rubayet Ferdous, Mashiur Rahman, Hazera Khatun of Sammilita
Nari Samaj supporting their cause asking the BUET authority to come to senses.
Many speakers from the students' forum demanded resignation of the VC.
The
sudents from Eden Girls college, Dhaka College and Dhaka University also
joined the rally expressing their solidarity to the cause of BUET students. In the meanwhile it is learnt that an alleged killer of Sonny named Nurul Islam alias Sagar, the police has arrested an accomplice of Tagar. So far 14 persons have been arrested including the leader of an armed cadre group Mushfiquddin Tagar and Moqbul Hosain Mukul. · 18. 08. 02 : Yesterday
the students of Jahangir Nagar University formed a human chain along the
Dhaka-Aricha Highway to show their solidarity with the current anti-facist
movement of the students of BUET. Hundreds of students took part in the chain
formation. After that the students assembled in front of cafeteria of the
university condemning the repressive actions of the Engineering university
authority. The assembly displayed a big banner saying : "
Is BUET an Educational Institution or a Prison ? " The assembly demanded immediate repeal of BUET ordinance giving more autonomy, withdrawal of punishment to the students. · 19. 08. 02: A Sonny-memorial column would
be constructed on the spot within the BUET campus where Sonny was murdered by
a group of gangsters when they were infighting with fire arms to get hold of
the tender. The university source disclosed this today. Five teachers of
department of architecture, namely Dr. Kh. Sabbir Ahmed, Dr. Sayer Gaffur,
Tarek Haider, Dr. Farida Nilufa and Prof. Farukh A. U. Khan, leader of the
group have designed it. The designer claimed that
memorial column would depict a message of protest against terrorism at the
same time it would manifest sadness & sorrow.
The designer however hurriedly added that it does not carry any
political protest, it would be devoid of any political implications. How
terribly shaken these teachers are. The proposed column would
have rectangular shape with height ~ 5'5" ft and width 8 ft with a void
at the centre of the wall depicting symbolically absence of Sonny. It would be
made of black granite with a white background that would be erected on 1ft
high platform made of red bricks. The black granite may be compared as a slate
that was being used by sonny for his academic work, which remained unfinished
because of her sudden death. The incomplete granite wall depicts this motif.
The white background represents the society as a whole on which Sonny was
brought in as a black granite- the blackness of it shows that she had to
succumb to terrorism. On the white wall 4 lines of a poem composed by sonny
herself would be engraved. The surroundings of the column would have a green
lawn. 21. 08. 02: The students of BUET
under the banner of 'Anti Terrorism BUET Students Unity' yesterday observed a
day long token hunger strike demanding their 7-ponts to be fulfilled at the
BUET central Shahid meenar premises. Recently formed Students forum naming
themselves as 'Progressive Students united front' ( Progatisheel Chhatra Jote)
of common students of all shaded of opinion excluding Pro BNP and Pro AL
elements submitted yesterday a memorandum to the PM. The memorandum demanded
immediate withdrawal of punishment, BUET ordinance and trial of Sonny killers.
Before submitting the memorandum the procession was intercepted by the police
near Shahbag where the precisionists held a meeting asking the PM to intervene
in BUET affairs to solve the crisis. The leading intellectuals of
the country expressed their sympathy to the striking students and asked the
BUET administration to come to terms with the students by withdrawing the
restrictions on the movement of the students and their democratic right to
social, political and cultural activities. They also demanded repeal of BUET
ordinance, a reminiscence of black laws of Ayub Khan of 1961. The
intellectuals who expressed their solidarity with the striking students were:
Prof. Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Prof. Ajoy Roy, Prof. Akmal Hosain, Engineer
Shahidullah, Prof. M. A. Akash, Shamsunnahar Jyotsna, and many others on
behalf of the guardians. 23. 08. 02: In pursuance of 7-point demand of the BUET students and demand of opening of DU, an assembly of students, teachers and intellectuals was held yesterday at the central Shahieed Meenar. The police initially tried to disperse the students and tried to snatch away loud speakers. The assembly once again addressed by many prominent university teachers and people from other forum including some political leaders of left leaning parties. The notable speakers who addressed the meeting and expressed unity with students' demands were : Bhasa Sainik Abdul Matin, Engineer Shahidullah, Manjurul Ahsan of CPB, Rashed Khan Menon of Workers Party, and leaders of the 11 party alliance, Prof. Niranjan Adhikari, Prof. Mdshbah Kamal, Prof. Anu Muhammad, Prof. Sirajul Islam Choudhury and Prof. Ajoy Roy. The speakers also demanded immediate opening of DU. 26. 08. 02: Yesterday the prominent citizens of Dhaka city met in an assembly under the banner 'Anxious Citizens' . The recent detonation of academic atmosphere in most educational institutions including universities prompted these conscious citizens to call a meeting of the civilians. Presided over by Professor Khan Sarwar Murshid, the speakers expressed their concern over the rapid detonation of academic atmosphere in most school, colleges and universities. They also condemned the increasing terrorist activities in the institutions under the patronage of the BNP government. The speakers noted with deep concern that the government is out to destroy autonomy of the universities and non-government colleges with an ill intention of controlling administration of universities, Colleges and schools through their appointed henchmen. Already two events- one occurred in a Dhaka University women dormitory and killing of a second year girl student at Engineering university brought ill fame to government. However the government is determined to allow the situation to deteriorate beyond control. Dhaka University is closed for sine die and BUET campus is agitated with demand of trial killers of Sonny and withdrawal of punisment meted to innocent students. The speakers deplored the action of the government and university authorities in the name of banning politics in the campus and opined to cultivate political culture is the democratic right of each individual. Government cannot bar students in pursuing their democratic right, which has been safe guarded by the constitution. The speakers include among others Dr. Kamal Hosain, Editor Ahmedul Kabir, Prof. Musharaff Hosain, Prof. Anisuzzaman, Prof. Muzaffar Ahmad, Prof. Ajoy Roy, Prof. Sirajul Islam Choudhury, Mr. Abdullah Abu Sayed, Journalist Fayez Ahmed, Journalist Ataus Samad, Mrs. Hena Das, Architect Bashirul Haque, Advocate Sultana Kamal, and others. 28. 08. 02 –29. 08. 02: The police yesterday
(27. 08. 02) lathe-charged the striking students of the Engineering
University. Eight left oriented students group of BUET called a strike of all
educational institutions throughout the country. At 7 a.m. The striking
students locked the main gate of the campus. As students started arriving the
campus teachers opened the main gate. The striking students assembled at the
Shahid Minar within the campus. The police then went into action- they
dispersed the assembled students using lathe; they also snatched away the
public address system.
On Wednesday (28. 08. 02) a massive procession was brought out within the BUET campus in which hundreds of general students participated protesting the police excess on the striking students on Tuesday (27. 08. 02) 31. 08. 02 : Vice Chancellor of BUET removed. The government has removed the BUET vice chancellor Prof. Nuruddin Ahmad. Dr. Ali Murtaza has replaced him as the new vice chancellor. It appears that the PM Khaleda Begum was not satisfied with way the outgoing VC was handling the affairs of student’s politics in the campus. Though the VC was acting as the most loyal servant of her majesty, her majesty wants sterner actions against the striking students. Her majesty’s wish is only Chhatradal politics should be allowed and student’s politics other than Chhatradal must be severely curbed. The outgoing VC could not satisfy his Master Begum Khaleda. So he had to go, as Anowarullah Choudhury had to go in DU. It has been stated in press briefing that the new VC has been teaching at BUET for last 30 years holding many responsible posts of authority in the university including that of dean, departmental chairman, provost etc. etc. .. BUET
Students’ Movement enters critical stage
BUET
students began hunger strike unto death
(3. 09.
02) From yesterday morning (02.
09. 02) a group of students of the university has begun hunger strike till
their 7-point demands are fulfilled by the BUET administration. The seven
points demands are: · The alleged killer Muki and his accomplices must be arrested and brought to justice. · The BUET administration must file a case against the alleged killer Muki and his accomplices · The BUET administration must withdraw the so-called punishments meted against the innocent students. · The BUET authority must withdraw the orders prohibiting the democratic right of holding peaceful assemblies, meetings and processions, organizing socio-cultural functions and activities. · The name of the women students’ hall should be in the name of Sadekun Nahar Sonny · The infamous black laws of the University known as Black-undemocratic 61’ ordinance must be repealed and replaced by a new ordinance that will ensure democratic norms and guarantee autonomy of the university. ·
The police and other law and order enforcing agencies must be
withdrawn forthwith. The students involved in the
movement under the banner 'Anti Terrorism BUET Students Unity' gave ultimatum
to the BUET administration to meet the demands within September 1, 2002. But
BUET authority did not pay any heed to their ultimatum. This forced the
students to go for extreme measures like hunger strike. The students began their
hunger strike at the Sahid Minar within the campus. But the police did not
allow them to stay there and dispersed with lathe-charge. The police kept the
Shahid Minar area cordoned so that striking students enter the area. The students, being barred by the police, took position
in front of the students’ cafeteria and began their hunger strike there. But
once again police intervened again threatening the students that they must
vacate this place also within an hour. It appears that there were no
BUET administration. Nether the VC nor a single teacher of the University came
forward to rescue the students from the police brutality. If the students were
doing wrong or done any excess in the past, it is the moral responsibility of
the teachers to induce the students. If the demands are right and lawful why
then the teaches do not come forward on the side of the students and induce
the BUET VC and his administration to reverse the decision of the disciplinary
board. The BUET administration as if running a district infested with dacoits
and thieves, terrorists and hooligans, not an educational Institution where
matured and meritorious students are the most important element of the
university. The BUE VC has left the administration to the SP, Police
commissioners, OCs, havildars and sepoys. The police once again
dispersed the students on hunger strike from the area at around 9-30 a.m. In
their brutal action many students including Bijoy Shankar Talukdar, Subrata
Sarkar, Debashish, Anupam, Saikat, Shanto, Kallol, Swapan, and Ruman.
received injuries. A few sepoys threw Bijoy on to the floor, whereas
Debashis was beaten with a lathe at his legs. Police even barred the injured
students to receive medical treatment at the BUET medical centre. The dispersed students once again slowly started
reassembling at the cafeteria premises and continued their hunger strike. In
the meanwhile a large students procession was brought out condemning the
police brutality and immediate withdrawal of police from the campus. The
processioninsts assembled at the cafeteria to encourage the students on hunger
strike. The assembly was addressed by among others Bijoy Shankar Talukdar,
Subrata Sarkar and Saifuddin Mollah. They expressed their determination to
continue the movement against all odds. In the afternoon many intellectuals and guardians
visited the students and expressed their solidarity and sympathy to the
students’ cause. The sympathizers held the BUET authority particularly the
VC and the government for the terrible situation obtaining in BUET as well as
DU campus. Notable among them were Journalist Fayez Ahmed, Prof. Ajoy Roy and
Prof. Shafi Ahmed of Jahangir Nagar University. My own experience : Hearing that students have undertaken an extreme step of hunger strike unto death in order to realize their 7-points demand I felt very perturbed as a teacher. Because this is an extreme step and it must be propelled judicially and meticulously. I went to the BUET campus to see the striking students and to discuss with them if they are aware of the serious consequences and the stern attitude of the BUET administration. I was stopped at the main gate, a police officer enquiring - where to go and who am I. I said I am a University professor and wish to visit the students who are on hunger strike. The police officer gave me a salute and allowed me to pass through. I straight went to the cafeteria premise where students are fasting at about 5 p.m. To my utter surprise I found students were surrounded by a platoon of police force. And their very look is ferocious. I solaced the students and enquired their condition. They narrated that since morning the police is harassing them. Early in the morning the students decided that they would stay at the Shaheed Minar premise for hunger strike. But the police forcibly drove them away from the minar chattar. To me it appeared ridiculous. Every law abiding citizen including a BUET student have fundamental right to protest against any decision in a peaceful legal way. Hunger strike is a recognized non-violence method of protest. But neither the BUET authority nor the police seemed to acknowledge it. The BUET administration must have this elementary knowledge of our constitution. In my own way I sympathized with their cause but at the same time I urged them to open a dialogue with the BUET authority particularly with the newly appointed Vice Chancellor who, I guessed at that time, being an experienced teacher must have a soft corner for the students. My hope was if the VC is sympathetic he could always find a suitable way out and he would definitely not go for all out confrontation with his beloved students. I also asked the students assembled there to talk to their teachers who could play a decisive role in solving the problem. But to my utter surprise the successive events proved that I put my confidence on a wrong person. While I was talking to the students on strike and their fellow students, a police officer came to me giving a smart salute. He very politely requested me to leave the place as the Vice Chancellor has standing directive no outsider should be here. He requested me ‘Sir, you better talk to the Vice Chancellor.‘ I had the least intention to argue with a petty officer. I told the officer not to resort to any brutal force to disperse them pointing out that they are peacefully observing their programme, why should you disperse them even if VC has ordered. I told the office that you have to assure me that you would not apply your platoon here to disperse the striking students. If you do so, I would not leave the place. The officer once again apparently very politely assured me that the police would not disturb them if they remain peaceful. I gave my assurance on behalf of the students urging the students not to be violent even against extreme provocation. I left the place at about 7 p.m. 4. 09. 02 : BUET Campus a Prison ? The hunger strike continued the following day (03. 09. 02). Five students got sick. They are Mohin (electrical), Debkanti Barua Moon (comp. eng.), Tamal (mechanical), Shimul (electrical), and Masud. The police turned the BUET campus virtually a prison. Every on entering the campus are being questioned and asked show identity card. In the meanwhile the BUET administration asked all its students and employees including teachers to wear ID grads 24 hours in order avoid police harassment. The police today at 7 p.m. intercepted at the main gate a group 15 teachers of DU who were coming to express their sympathy to hunger striking students. But the students brought the teachers in a procession to cafeteria premise. The group of DU teachers included Prof. Meshbah Kamal, Prof. Helaluddin Khan Arefin, Prof Anisur Rahman, and Prof. Galib Ahsan .... . During the strike general students brought a procession within the campus defying BUET administration’s restriction and police interception at 1 p.m. Today students of department of architecture (99) batch and electrical department (batch 98) declared that hence forth would refrain from attending class till the demands of the students are met. In the meanwhile people of all cross section including guardians and intellectuals continued to express their sympathy and solidarity with the students’ cause. These people included Bhasa Sainik Abdul Matin, Prof. M.M Akash, Dr. Meghna Guhathakurata, Prof. Anu Muhammad, Engineer Maniruddin (Ex-general secretary of university students’ union ), Dramatist Mamunur Rashid, and Mahmuduzzaman. On the other side the intolerant VC and his administration called the hunger strike of the students as an attempt on the part of a few students to destabilize the academic atmosphere of the institution. He further commented that most of the students want to go to the class, - in fact they are doing so. 5. 09. 02 : BUET Campus became human sea More and more students of different departments of different batches are joining their fellow students abandoning their classes. The students expressing their support and sympathy to the striking students are bringing out procession after procession. The VC is bewildered and keeping a very watchful eye. The campus remained very sensitive and agitated. On the one side number of students sympathizers are increasing so also the police force. The entire campus is now captive. 12 students became very week – some were administered saline. The ailing students are : Salekin (civil), Rani (electrical), Kallol (electrical), Ashraf (electrical), ... . Among them condition of Moon and Shimul are quite critical. The general students brought out a big procession at about 10 a.m. and moved through the entire campus. Police intercepted it at many points. At one stage police snatched away the public address system, which was being used to urge the students to join the procession and assembly. After the a[procession students assembled in front of the cafeteria and hold a rally where students declared their solidarity with striking students. Out side of BUET, many students’ and cultural organizations like DU anti repression students’ forum, Hill Students Association, Bijnan Chetana Parisad, Bangladesh Group Theatre, Group Federation and DU students in general expressed their sympathy with their fellow students at BUET. In the afternoon Professor Mozaffar Ahmed and Professor Sirajul Islam Choudhury visited the BUET cafeteria premise and showed sympathy with the students of BUET. The BUET VC however remained stern and antipathetic to the students. He today send a group of teachers loyal to the university administration to the striking students who asked them to call off the hunger strike. But students refused to comply with their request unless their demands are met. The VC in front of his addressing a handful of students said we have asked general students to keep away from the programmes of the some students involved in anti disciplinary and anti academic activities. He further alleged that our version of opinion about the situation at BUET is not getting the attention of the press for which we would publish our version in the form of advertisement. What a pity ! One administrative officer of the university told the press that they are keeping a watchful eye on the situation. Situaton in BUET worsening 6. 09. 02 : On the 4th day of the hunger strike condition of 24 students worsened. The authority remained stern and unmoved. It seemed the word heart, love, human feelings are quite unknown to VC and his ever-obliging colleagues and administrative officers. These people are devoid of any human feelings. It is alleged by the students that some teachers are evening threatening the students who tend to show some sympathy with movement of the students. Even they said that ‘if you have any so called conscience then do not come to BUET- the place of humanism conscience, feelings and emotion have no place in engineering education. Are the engineers human being or simply a robot – a machine having only human form, I wonder. The students whose conditions deteriorated are Debkanti Barua (Computer), Shimul (Electrical), Salekin (civil), Sajib (civil), Tomal (mechanical). Different students and cultural organizations continued their support to the BUET students. Peoples of different walk of live including teachers, intellectuals came to express their solidarity with the movement. 7. 09. 02 : On fifth day, 4 students got seriously ill. The have to be removed to Dhaka Medical hospital. The students are Debkanti Barua, Tamal Paul, Salekin and Subrata Sarkar (architecture). The attending doctors at the cafeteria premises condition of most of the students are serious. After days of hunger strike all of them are suffering from dizziness, insomnia and general weakness. Some of them showing low pressure. If they not give up hunger strike many have to be shifted to hospital. Yesterday mothers of some of the striking students came to the BUET campus from outside Dhaka. Mother of Sudeepta came all the way from Jessore. She broke down as she saw the condition of her son and others. She complained about the inhuman attitude of the BUET authority and the teachers who are supposed to play the role of loving fathers and mothers while in the campus. Instead they are behaving in a crude and inhuman way. Mother of Indraneel and Rony were also found weeping there. The police even misbehaved with them asking them rudely to vacate the area. At about 11 a.m. students formed a human chain expressing their solidarity with the cause symbolically- as if saying “go on, we are with you. “ Poet Shamsur Rahman participated in this human chain formation. The chain remained for over 15 minutes. Students of different halls came out with procession in the afternoon to express their solidarity with cause and the movement. Among the intellectuals Dr. Samir K. Sheel, Dr. Torab Jahir, Dr. Nazma Shahin, Dr. M. A. Malek, Dr. Aftabuddin Ahmed, Dr. Md. Jahir ( pro vice chancellor of Bangabandhu Medical University), and Prof. Sharifullah Bhuiyan of DU. BUET VC meets the Press
Yesterday
the BUET VC Dr. Ali Murtaza together with his obliging colleagues like Jainul
Abedin, director students’ welfare, Nizamuddin Ahmed, dean faculty of
architecture, Abdul Halim, dean faculty of civil engineering, Shahidul Islam
Khan, dean faculty of electricity and electronics, Mohar Ali Bepari,
Shorabuddin Ahmed, A FM Anwarul
Haque and Md. Shahjahan, registrar. In a written press statement the VC said
that following the killing of Sonny the students who actively engaged in some
anti social activities, before and after the killing event, that led
destruction of properties, setting fire, etc. were given punishment as per
findings of the disciplinary board. Number of such students are 23. Out of
theses 4 were expelled for different terms for alleged involvement in
Sonny-killing and one was expelled for his misbehavior, 15 were expelled for
their involvement in destruction, setting of fire, scuffle etc, but their
punishment kept abeyance, and 3 were simply cautioned. The VC explained that
punishment meted to 15 boys would not be effective and their academic terms
shall not affect if they behave properly in future. In all probability the
suspended punishment would no be given effect to. The application of those
students who have applied for exemption of punishments would be placed before
the Academic Council for reconsideration. He further said once a court offered
a verdict couldn’t be withdrawn. He
further commented that in comparison to total number of students reading in
BUET number of students taking active part in the so-called movement is, he
considers, only a handful. His stooge the director students’ welfare
elaborated that total number students in BUET are few thousands whereas
students participating in the movement would not exceed a few hundreds. So the
number is surely insignificant. The director who is acting as an OC of a
police station rather than a teacher claimed that BUET authority had no
intention of punishing a single innocent student. He said that in pronouncing
judgment the board of residence and discipline had taken into account of the
subject matter of the editorial of the EUCSU magazine and events following it,
academic performance of the students and many matters. How hypocritical he is.
When asked why a student was served with a show cause notice for giving a
press briefing following killing of Sonny, the director defended his action by
saying that she was given any punishment- she was summoned to verify some her
statements – particularly ‘ either the terrorists would stay or the
general students stay in BUET campus.’ But our humble question is to the
welfare director- even if she said so what is wring in it? Why she should be
served with the show cause notice. Another question to this gentleman-
what is wrong in the editorial of the magazine ? Isn’t a fact that
Jamat, the collaborators of Pakistani military junta, is sharing state power
with BNP who claimed to contribute in our war of liberation? Isn’t a
dichotomy?
08. 09. 02 :
Hunger
strike in BUET Continued
Most
of the students participating in hunger strike have been attacked with
diarrhea. Processions of general students are being held boycotting the
classes. But it is unfortunate some teachers still trying to induce students
come to the class otherwise their academic life would be made miserable.
A
student named Arun associated with the movement was severely beaten by a group
of students belonging to Chhatradal on the sixth day of the hunger strike at
12 noon. His offence was that he gave an interview to private TV channel.
Another
11 students joined the hunger strike yesterday. At about 10 a.m. students of
different batches of different departments after boycotting their classes
brought a big procession of more than one thousand students. This is a direct
answer to the statement of the Vice Chancellor Mr. Murtaza and his deputy DSW
who day before yesterday stated that students involved in the movement would
not exceed hundreds. The procession moved around the campus chanting slogans
demanding withdrawal of punishments and university ordinance.
The
conditions of many students are getting serious. The attending doctor has
advised some to be removed to the hospital – but none of them are willing to
leave their fellow students. These students are Kallol (electrical), Rony
(electrical), Sajib (civil), Sudeepta (civil), Indraneel (Computer), and Moin
(Industrial productions).
Following
organizations expressed their solidarity through press statements : Jatiya
Chhatradal, Biplobi Chhatra Sangha, Biplobi Chhatra Juba Andolan, Chhatra
Union, Chhatra League, Bangladesh Sikshak Samity, Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh
Lekhak Shibir, College and University Teachers Association and 11- parties.
7. 09. 02 :
University
of Engineering and Technology closed sine die
No
the boasting VC Mr. Ali Murtaza or his associates the deans of different
faculties, provosts of halls of residence, the director students’ welfare
could not maintain the so called academic atmosphere of the university by
applying inhuman undemocratic laws of the university embedded in
‘62-University ordinance. They have to deploy platoons of police and BDR to
quell the movement launched ‘a few handful boys and girls’.
Now
tell me Mr. Vice Chancellor why do you require thousands of members of law
enforcing agency in putting down the demands of, in your own language, a
handful of students who were up to destroy the good name of your university.
Why do you think Mr. Vice Chancellor, you are the only guardian and custodian
of maintaining the good name of the BUET. Don’t you know learned VC that
students are the most important component of your university- if they do not
exist you are no where. Why do you forget students are not less concerned than
you in preserving heritage, tradition and good name of the university. It is
you and your predecessor has brought ill name to this prestigious institution.
As a vice chancellor, the chief executive of the university you are a symbol
of failure, as a teacher you are an utter failure as you have earned no love
and respect from the students community. Your success is that you have tried
to serve your master, who made you VC through an undemocratic law, the
rejected university ordinance, very faithfully at the cost of the good name of
a historic institution. Mr. Vice chancellor you have no right to stay a single
moment in this highest office.
You
yourself said you have instructed the police to implement your directives to
stop the agitating but peaceful students. You closed down the university
because you failed to convince your students that your stand is right. You
failed to implement your directives through your own administrative machinery
because students would not listen to you. Didn’t you say they are only
handful ? Mr. VC you have let loose the brutal police and BDR members to
implement your orders by violence means – and the police indulged to carry
out your orders using tear gas, lathe charge and many other violence means
police can think of. They beat the students male and female, throw away the
saline injection syringe with brutal force, tortured physically the ailing
boys and their attending aids. Mr. Vice Chancellor how could you do it ? No
amount of explanation, no amount of apology or excuses, which you tried to
communicate with us through press conference would cover up your crime in let
loosing police and BDR to implement your so called orders. This is inhuman,
shameless and autocratic action of yours. You will go down in the history of
BUET as worst vice chancellor of a noble institution. Even now would you call
the movement as creation of a handful of misguided young men ?
What
happened from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. ?
It wall started when yesterday (08. 09. 02) at about 12 noon a group of 12 students of Chhatradal and Shibir led by named Hasib Iman, Suruj, Iqbal (VP of Students Union), Suman, Sajjad attacked the hunger striking students. They took away needle of the saline syringe causing oozing of blood, damaged the microphone system, set fire to the banner. Five and six students were injured as a result of this attack- they were Sohel, Kabir, Avi, Manir, Mosharaf, Tanvir, Taru, and Rajib. The police at this time were just silent spectators. However as the assaulting students of Sibir and Chhatradal were returning from the place of occurrence a group of students beat four of them. It is alleged that the main hero of the whole episode Muki was leading the operation from the main gate of the campus. Police at this stage fired a round of bullets into sky, perhaps to terrorize the agitating students. The event made the general students agitated. General students supporting the cause of hunger striking students started assembling in front of the cafeteria. Thousands of boys and girls were found chanting slogans against the BUET administration. They slowly group by group moved toward the office of the vice chancellor. The students then gheraoed the VC office and locked it. The VC became captive in his office by the students. The vice chancellor later alleged that agitating students have snapped his telephone line and electricity. At this stage students were found crying – they complained that the Shibir and Chhatradal cadre have severely assaulted their brothers and sisters who were fasting unto death for their cause. At one p.m. the police asked the students to vacate the office of the VC. As they refused to do police went into action by resorting to lathe charge and firing tear gas shell. The BUET campus turned into a battlefield. At about 3-45 p.m. police asked the reassembled students at the cafeteria premise to vacate within three minutes. But students refused to do so. The police at this stage took up the role of BUET administration. They announced that ‘please don’t spoil your career only for a few. Leave the campus within two minutes”. Police then kicked on student with his boot, another sepoy tear open the saline syringe of striking student. This caused bleeding, when a friend of his put his shirt on the injured place. The students started moving toward the Central Shaheed Minar leaving the campus group by group. But the police intercepted them taking place at the Shaheed Minar. As the students went up the Minar police began lathe charging on the sick students and forcibly dispersed them. In this operation Susan Faria, Nahin, and Nandini were severely lathe charged. Susanta received a charge with a lathe and his hand broken. The police fired at least 20 rounds of tear shell at this time. The dispersing students took shelter inside BUET mosque premise. But the police then raided the mosque and fired tear gas shell within the mosque. The students taking shelter inside the mosque came out and took position on the open position at the crossing of roads between Jagnnath hall and BUET. Hundreds of students from the Shaheed Minar also took position there. At about 5 p.m. the police asked the students to disperse from there also. At the same time Mr. Hanif, erstwhile mayor arrived at the spot to express his sympathy with students’ cause. He asked the attending police officer why the students were not allowed to sit at the Shaheed Minar Chattar to continue their hunger strike. The officer in charge simply said that it is the directives from the top that no assembly of students be allowed at the Shaheed Minar. The ex-mayor then assured the students that he would try to convince the higher authority of the police. Obviously Hanif’s attempt failed. Sooner the ex-mayor left the place police resorted to physical force to disperse the students. They were forced to leave the place and moved toward TSC of DU. They tried to reassemble at TSC crossing around the Raju Sculpture. Police tried to disperse them again using lathe-charge and firing tear-gas shells. 4 students defying the police action went up the Sculpture and put their banner to continue their hunger strike. The police severely beat them with lathe and batons. The police once again fired 10-12 round of tear gas shells to disperse them. With the police action group Chhatradal moved in with the police to disperse the students. One cadre of Chhatradal was heard saying “ Students of BUET have no place in DU campus”. Government in a dilemma : It was learnt the BUET was closed down at the directives of Prime minister herself. A rumour was spread at about 12 noon that a hunger striking student has succumbed to death. The rumour was found baseless. The critically ill student was removed to Bangabandhu hospital where he was admitted to CCU. Later on his condition improved. The students informed all concerned that he is out of danger. The PM was present at the secretariat at that moment. Hearing this news she immediately ordered the relevant quarter to close down the university. On the BUET issue government had been in confusion for last few days. The saner elements wanted to solve the problem through negotiation cum persuasion with the students. But the harder elements thought otherwise. As a result the situation in BUET worsened. The BUET VC however denied any government intervention in closing down the university. My own experience : On hearing the police crack down on the hunger-striking students I rushed to the BUET campus at around 5 p.m. I could not proceed across Shaheed Minar. Hundreds of police cordoned the Shaheed Minar Road that leads to BUET campus. No one was allowed to pass through the barricade. Hundreds of students, I found, moving toward DU campus in a haphazard manner, - however the main stream of the students followed the path between Jagannath hall and DU teachers Residence which leads to TSC chattar and Raju sculpture. Some students dispersed to TSC premise via Doel Chattar in front of the Curzon Hall. The area was smoked with tear gas- I myself felt some irritation in my eyes. I bought a bottle of water and refreshed my eyes. This reminds me those days of 52 – and 54- language movement. I moved through Ramna Uddan following the stream of dispersing students and saw the brutal police action near Raju sculpture from the Uddan. The tear gas shelling, lathe charge and scuffling between police and students continued till 6 p.m. till all students assembling near TSC premise were completely cleared off. A procession of students then tried to move toward Shishu Park via Shahabag turn. As the broken procession reached near Matsya Bhaban police again resorted to lathe charge dispersing the students once again. I returned home at 7-30 p.m. witnessing once again how a state power could exhibit its ugliest face of torture through its law enforcing agencies like police and BDR, a drama in which police played the role of a supporting villein to a greater villein – the BUET VC. The undaunted students of
BUET under the banner of ‘Anti terrorism BUET Students Unity‘ supported by
all leading students organizations including Chhatra League called half a day
Hartal in Dhaka on 10th September.
The students last slogan I heard as I was returning home with sad and
melancholy mood “ Long Live Revolution. We shall be
Victorious at the end”. I wish I get back my youth and join them
physically. The
excuse of BUET VC Prof. Ali Murtaza. Even the killer has his
arguments in killing a person. So has the BUET VC who claims to be a teacher
with a background of 30 years of teaching experience. I do not question his
efficiency as a teacher in the classroom. But I wonder how a person like Ali
Murtaza whose real character as a man and as a teacher has been revealed
during last couple of weeks could become a teacher in a university where
knowledge is created, disseminated generation to generation and liberalism
grows. Something must be wrong with the educational system of BUET. Why
instead of liberalism – the narrowness (kupamondukata), backwardness and
overall inward looking culture are developing in BUET. The notorious VC has claimed
his success in thrashing down the so-called movement of a handful of students.
He posed a question after this success why should he resign- this he uttered
unashamed in a press briefing following the close down of the university in a
brutal way. The police-BDR joint action in implementing the desire of the VC
resorted to force of unprecedented nature including lathe charge, tear gassing
and baton charge, use of boot kicking, flooring down the girls by pulling
their hairs– it even surpassed
the brutality of Shamsunnahar Hall episode of DU. The VC once again reiterated
his earlier stand that out of 4-5 thousand students of BUET 4-5 hundred
students might speak out irrelevant remarks- why should I listen to them. He
claimed that the university was closed down with the unanimous consent of the
teachers. He further said that the university was closed down in order to
restore the total discipline and restore academic atmosphere. Regarding police torture, brutality and excess committed on the students the learned (?) VC pleaded his innocence commenting that there might be some mild lathe-charge. He admitted that he has
ordered the police-BDR to go to action to restore the authority of BUET
administration within the campus and implement the decision of the closing
down of the university. This means vacating the students from the hall of
residence and the campus within less than an hour. In the press briefing he
was helped by a few of his
lieutenant teachers namely, Joynul Abedin, director students’ welfare (dsw),
Dr. Nizamuddin, Dr. Sohrabuddin ... . In a BTV interview the VC
said same thing that he had to close down the university to restore and
reestablish the BUET authority. It reminds me of the speech of Yahya Khan on
the 26th December evening of 1971 after cracking down military
force on the Bengalis that he had to order his military to reestablish the
authority of Pakistan government on the soil of the then East Pakistan. What a
close similarity in attitude and action !
The VC said that the unruly students hearing the rumour that one
hunger-striking student died locked the gate of his office and gheraoed him
and his office staff. He claimed that due to mild police action in dispersing
the students gheraoing him only 4-5 students received mild injuries. But real
picture is not less 50 students were injured because of police brutality.
His lieutenant, the dsw who has been off late behaving more like a police officer rather than as a loving and sympathetic teacher once again justified pronouncing punishment against students who protested sonny killing and demanding the killers to bring to justice. He even went further to comment ill remarks about the elite who went to the BUET campus expressing the solidarity with the striking students. May very politely remind this acting police officer of BUET police substation that BUET is a public place any citizen, not to speak of respected intellectuals of different strata of the society, has every right to know and see what is happening in BUET campus and what the BUET authority doing in name of maintaining law and order. You can not stop, my dear dsw, public visitation, because we the public pay your salary and other fringe benefit that you are enjoying including the fine flat you are occupying and the allowance you are drawing as ‘dsw’. May I remind you, Mr. dws, that in Bangla there is a proverb “Dhrake Sara Jnan Karo na “. What
followed next : 10. 09. 02 : Uneasy calm is prevailing within the campus of the two prestigious educational institutions Dhaka University and the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET). Both the campus is a now
captive of police. The campus does not belong to academics nor to taughts. It
has been occupied by non-academic evil forces like BDR and Police who are
acting as stooge of the fascist government led by Begum Khaleda Rahman. What a
shame, - the campus is the playground of non-students led Chhatradal, play
ground of brutal police force and BDR jowans. As if the law agencies are in
combat against our enemy. But who are those enemies – the students and
enlightened teachers who speak for democracy, who speak for liberalism, who
speak rationalism, who speak for free intellectualism. The entire area was cordoned-
public vehicles were not allowed thoroughfare. Central Shaheed Minar, symbol
of our protest against tyranny and repression is itself now captive of the
Police representing authoritarian government of Khaleda Begum. We are every
moment feeling the bite of the government whom we put in power with two third
of majority. 11. 09. 02 to 12. 09. 02 : A peaceful Hartal was observed in protest of police excess in putting down the hunger strike and closing down of BUET once again. The Hartal was called by Chhatra League and Pragratisheel Chhatra Jote ( Progressive Students' United front ). During Hartal 4 the police arrested persons and 30-35 persons were injured during police action. In the morning of 6-30 a.m. the progratishee chhatra oikyajote brought out a procession from Paltan turn, but police incepted. Undaunted students as paraded the streets, the police resorted to lathe charge dispersing the boys. The police once again lathe charged the picketers near new market. At 10 a.m. BUET students brought out a procession again dispersed by the police. At 11 a.m. police dispersed a procession near Mirpur. Once again police went into action to disperse processions of students league that brought a procession from Baitul Mokarram at 11 a.m. from Bangabandhu Avenue. At Bijoynagar the police resorted to lathe charge wounding 30-35 students. At 12 noon the Progatisheel Chhatra Oikyajote students brought out a procession from Paltan turn that after parading different streets ended at Muktagan. At 2 p.m. they arranged a press briefing in which they students implementation of BUET students' 7-point demands and immediate opening of DU and BUET. The Oikya Jote will have a meeting with leaders of 11 party alliances. On the third consecutive day (12. 09. 02) both BUET and DU campus are captives of police - BDR. The Dhaka metropolitan police prohibited all kinds of assemblies, meetings and use of microphone system inside the campus. Near Shahbag the students tried to assemble which was successfully dispersed by the police. Next students tried to re group near Muktagan, but police also dispersed them there. The University authority is
totally unaware of the situation. Prof. Yusuf Haidar, the acting Vice
Chancellor of DU pleaded innocence saying that the university authority has
not banned students' activities within the campus. The statement of Yusuf
Haidar clearly demonstrated that the university authority does not exist
either in DU or BUET. It is the government who has taken over the
administration with the help of police and BDR. 13. 09. 02 : A meeting of the
civilians under the banner 'Nagarik Samaj Samabesh' was held in which
University teachers, professionals of different fields, and guardians of the
BUET students. The evicted students of BUET largely attended the meeting.
‘Anti Terrorism BUET Students Unity’ arranged the meeting. The speakers
that included Poet Shamsur Rahaman, Journalist Fayez Ahmed, Prof. Ajoy Roy,
Prof. Anu Mohammad, Prof. Humayun Azad, Prof. Mesbah Kamal and Architect
Meshiuddin Shaker and few guardians of BUET students condemned the police
action directed against the striking students and the inhuman attitude of the
BUET authority including its Vice Chancellor. The speakers also criticized the
apathetic attitude of the teachers of the BUET. Poet Shamsur Rahman said, '
we are passing through some dark days and hoped that younger students will
lead us from darkness to light.' Professor Ajoy Roy said that something is
wrong in BUET education, which must be revealed and rectified. He pointed out
that at present inside BUET a culture is being cultivated which is devoid of
humanism and totally closed like a pond. Professor Roy deplored that even the
Shaheed Minar is now captive at the hand of the Police. He raised three
demands- 'Free the Shaheed Minar from its captivity' , Restore democratic
Values in BUET campus, Protect autonomy of DU. Prof. Azad deplored the
attitude of the BUET VC whom he called a head Moulana of a Fokrania Madrasa
rather than a VC of a modern university. He posed a question how one can
expect democratic behaviour from such a person. 14. 09. 02 : Even to day the Shaheed Minar, DU & BUET campuses are besieged. The Shaheed Minar is practically imprisoned- it was barricaded by bribed wires and wooden frame. Police are patrolling with watchful eyes so that no one can enter its premises. We don’t know what the government is after. Do they think with the police and BDR it can stop the voice of the protesting mass ? Yesterday the police forcibly occupied the University bat-tola and Aparajeya Bangla premises. It is not a DU campus it is a Police line of DU. Hundreds of police took position in side DU campus showing a thumb to the so called university administration. The authority has turned into a BDR_Police Institution where students and teachers can enter . What kind of state we are living. The pro-BNP VC and his colleagues are keeping mum. Why don’t they go to their madam and say what kind of university you want see in 21st century ? As per schedule, yesterday some citizens under the banner ‘General Spectators’ went to Shaheed Minar in the afternoon to hold a protest rally condemning closure of ETV and demand its resumption. But police did not allow them to enter the Minar Chattar. The spectators met in a brief meeting adjacent to Minar premise preside over by Marine Engineer Abdul Bari. The meeting resolved that ETV should be allowed to resume its transmission. The speakers which included Gazi Ashraf Lipu, Cricketer, M.M.Morshed, dramatist, Mamunur Rashid, a DU student, etc. asked the government to do the needful in this respect.
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Photo-courtesy: e-mela, Jugantor, Daily star, Prothom Alo