Locals in Potuatoli have destroyed a banner on Shaheed Ajmal Hossain Hall, minutes after it was put up by Jagannath University students agitating to reclaim occupied dormitories. Students said the vandals are working for ‘influential illegal occupants.’
The area is tense but no unpleasant event has taken place so far, said Kotwali Police OC Md Moniruzzaman.
Jagannath’s students began their scheduled on-campus protest at 10am on Sunday.Businessmen in the area closed their shops and were prepared from morning to counter the students, witnesses said.
Thousands brought out a procession towards the hall an hour later but it was stopped under an over bridge at Banglabazaar.
A hundred-strong barricade of policemen cordoned off the students who demonstrated there for an hour.
A small team of protesters then went with the police to place the banner on Ajmal hall.
The locals tore it down and set it on fire before starting their own agitation, minutes after the students headed back to the campus.
They were also heard saying, ‘No halls in a residential area!’
At present, nine of the university’s student and staff hostels in Old Dhaka are being occupied by others. The students of the University have been agitating from the beginning of last month for the removal of illegal occupants.
“There is tension amid locals and Jagannath University students,” the Kotwali OC told bdews24.com. “The people of the neighbourhood destroyed the banner, although the students placed it in a peaceful manner.”
But the situation was back to normal now, he claimed.
Bangladesh Chhatra League President Shariful Islam, a coordinator of the movement, said the locals were wrong in burning the banner.
“You have wronged the students by tearing down that banner. You are provoked by land grabbers. You are our guardians and brothers. We request that you give us a chance so that we can coexist in peace,” he said.
They had clashed with police on Feb 23 while protesting in front of Tibet Hall. Numerous protesters including a teacher were injured by rubber bullets.
Shaheed Ajmal Hall at Patuatoli’s Ramakanta Nondi Lane fell out of hand in the 90s. Some policemen are living there with their families. Some parts of it are being used to house offices of various associations.
Mosharraf Hossain Khan, a local, took over some parts of it in 1996.
Another incursion came when the signboard ‘Begum Rokeya (Shaheed Family) was put up. At present, four parties claim ownership of the building. – bdnews24.com
