Kazi Zahidul Hasan with Noman Mosharef :
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) on Friday banned student politics on its campus in line with the demand of the students who have been protesting for the last five days seeking justice to the killing of their fellow Abrar Fahad.
The BUET authorities also temporarily suspended 19 students of the university who are accused in the Abrar murder case.
Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Saiful Islam came up with the announcement at a discussion with the protesting students in the BUET auditorium on Friday evening.
“I am banning student politics at BUET as per the power conferred on me in the University Ordinance,” he said.
Earlier, BUET students have given the authorities an ultimatum of seven days to ban political activities of all student organisations on its campus and rusticate the students accused of torturing to death of Abrar Fahad.
The students also placed 10-point demand in this regard.
“The 19 students who were accused in the Abrar murder case have been suspended and decision of their rustication would be made after completion of investigation,” said Prof Saiful Islam.
He said the university authorities would publish a notice regarding the students’ suspension on Saturday.
At the discussion, the BUET VC regretted the murder of Abrar terming it an ‘unexpected’ and
‘sorrowful’ event for the university.
“All of you are like my children and I beg apology from you for the incident,” he added.
A large number of students attended the two hours long meeting that began at 5.30pm where the BUET VC answered several questions raised by the students on their 10-point demand.
Many students also seen sitting outside the auditorium as it cannot accommodate such a huge number of students.
The protesting students earlier gave the VC an ultimatum to meet with them by 5:00pm. But the VC entered the BUET auditorium at 5.35pm to discuss with the protesting students.
Replying to a student’s question, Prof Saiful Islam said, “The University would provide ‘compensation’ to the family of Abrar and it would also bear the expenses of the case. But Abrar’s family would have to appeal to the varsity authorities first in this regard. Disbursement of the ‘compensation’ money should be given following proper procedure.”
In reply to another question, the VC said that the university would investigate previous incidents of torture in the name of ‘ragging’ and ensure justice.
He also said that he would write to the government for early trial of Abrar murder case.
The vice-chancellor accepted all the demands ‘in principle’ for which the students were protesting.
Meanwhile, students announced continuation of their protest programme after the discussion with the VC until their demands are met officially.
Abrar, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department of the university, was beaten to death by a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders of Sher-e-Bangla Hall early Monday suspecting him a Shibir activist and reportedly for his critical views on social media over the recently signed deals between Bangladesh and India.
Protests sparked across the country after his death.
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) on Friday banned student politics on its campus in line with the demand of the students who have been protesting for the last five days seeking justice to the killing of their fellow Abrar Fahad.
The BUET authorities also temporarily suspended 19 students of the university who are accused in the Abrar murder case.
Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Saiful Islam came up with the announcement at a discussion with the protesting students in the BUET auditorium on Friday evening.
“I am banning student politics at BUET as per the power conferred on me in the University Ordinance,” he said.
Earlier, BUET students have given the authorities an ultimatum of seven days to ban political activities of all student organisations on its campus and rusticate the students accused of torturing to death of Abrar Fahad.
The students also placed 10-point demand in this regard.
“The 19 students who were accused in the Abrar murder case have been suspended and decision of their rustication would be made after completion of investigation,” said Prof Saiful Islam.
He said the university authorities would publish a notice regarding the students’ suspension on Saturday.
At the discussion, the BUET VC regretted the murder of Abrar terming it an ‘unexpected’ and
‘sorrowful’ event for the university.
“All of you are like my children and I beg apology from you for the incident,” he added.
A large number of students attended the two hours long meeting that began at 5.30pm where the BUET VC answered several questions raised by the students on their 10-point demand.
Many students also seen sitting outside the auditorium as it cannot accommodate such a huge number of students.
The protesting students earlier gave the VC an ultimatum to meet with them by 5:00pm. But the VC entered the BUET auditorium at 5.35pm to discuss with the protesting students.
Replying to a student’s question, Prof Saiful Islam said, “The University would provide ‘compensation’ to the family of Abrar and it would also bear the expenses of the case. But Abrar’s family would have to appeal to the varsity authorities first in this regard. Disbursement of the ‘compensation’ money should be given following proper procedure.”
In reply to another question, the VC said that the university would investigate previous incidents of torture in the name of ‘ragging’ and ensure justice.
He also said that he would write to the government for early trial of Abrar murder case.
The vice-chancellor accepted all the demands ‘in principle’ for which the students were protesting.
Meanwhile, students announced continuation of their protest programme after the discussion with the VC until their demands are met officially.
Abrar, a second-year student of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department of the university, was beaten to death by a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League leaders of Sher-e-Bangla Hall early Monday suspecting him a Shibir activist and reportedly for his critical views on social media over the recently signed deals between Bangladesh and India.
Protests sparked across the country after his death.
