BAU Correspondent :
The general students of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) called indefinite strike on the campus from today (Tuesday) seeking permanent expulsion, arrest and capital punishment to the killers of Saad Ibne Momtaz who was beaten to death by some Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) men on April 1.
The decision came at a gathering of the common students in front of the Administration Building at around 11:00am on Monday.
Sources said that over 1000 students, most of whom are females, boycotting their classes at around 8:30am gathered in front of Administration Building. Later, the agitating students brought out a protest procession at around 9:00am and marched the campus.
They went different faculties of the university to check whether any class was being held or not defying their class boycott programme, sources said.
Hot talk exchanged between agitating students and third year students of Animal Husbandry (AH) faculty took place in the faculty while they (agitating students) urged the AH students to participate in the programme, an account of the incident said.
No untoward incident, however, took place due to intervention of ongoing class teacher Prof Dr Md Ali Akbar, eyewitnesses said.
Later, the agitating students returned to the Administration Building premises again and staged sit-in there.
They declared indefinite strike on the campus from today (Tuesday) to press home their demands.
The students have drawn kind attention of Education Minister, Prime Minister and President due to the controversial role of the BAU administration to solve the crisis.
When contacted, BAU proctor Prof Dr Md Shahidur Rahman Khan said, “According to the university ordinance, no student of the university individually or collectively shall declare strike on the campus and interfere with the free movement of the students willing to attend classes.”
University authority can take necessary action against the guilty in case of violation of the provision, the BAU proctor added.
On the other hand, BAU Teacher’s Association (BAUTA) in a release has withdrawn their solidarity with the demonstrating students saying that BAU teachers could never support any activities of the agitating students contrary to the discipline of the university.
“BAU teachers have no engagement with the agitated students,” the release reads.
It is mentionable, BAU teachers under the banner of BAUTA expressed their solidarity with the agitating students a day after they (students) started movement regarding Saad killing issue.
BAUTA president Prof Dr Md Lutful Hasan was not available for his comment about regarding the issue.
Meanwhile, BAU authorities has formed a five member new probe body headed by dean of Agriculture faculty Prof Dr M A Sattar to investigate why students could not return to their classes although the authorities expelled three students for life and other three for different terms who were allegedly involved in Saad killing.
In another development, dean council of BAU in an emergency meeting Sunday night with the Vice-Chancellor of the university Prof Dr Md Rafiqul Hoque decided to take class from Monday even two percent of the students attend the class.
