Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said not all of those who the media pictured brandishing firearms at Rajshahi University were members of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
The photos had shown several leaders of her party’s student front attacking with firearms the general students demonstrating against a hike in fees and introduction of evening courses on Sunday.The student organisation has faced a barrage of criticism after the incident that left at least 50 injured.
Hasina made the remark in Parliament on Tuesday responding to the opposition Jatiya Party’s demand for punishment to all those involved in the attack.
“Not all of those who were seen with arms in their hands are Chhatra League members. Those who were from Chhatra League have been expelled,” the Awami League President said.
“One has the right to self-defence if attacked. But a terrorist is a terrorist. Photos of those who cut the tendons of our boys of Chhatra League never get published. Why newspapers and human rights activists stay silent then?”
She said the Inspector General of Police had been ordered to act against those who were involved in the attack on RU students. She added that members of her party’s student affiliate were also attacked on that day.
The Prime Minister did not say who carried out the attack on the BCL activists, but the case its RU unit filed on Monday had accused leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.
Addressing the demonstrators who are demanding cancellation of hike of fees and evening courses, Hasina said, “Leftist parties should watch out who are joining them in the name of movement. Shibir cannot be allowed to join the movement.”
Initiating an unscheduled discussion on the Rajshahi University, Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury demanded action against the Chhatra League leaders under the Arms Act.
BCL leaders whose photos with arms had appeared in the media are joint general secretaries of the its university unit, Nasim Ahmed Setu, Mehbubur Rahman Palash, organisation secretaries Shamsuzzaman Iman, Al Ghalib and Fauzal Ahmed Runu, Environment Affairs Secretary Mustakin Billah, and a former member of the committee Sudipta Salam.
But Tajul Islam demanded a judicial enquiry into the incident, saying “expulsions alone will not solve the problem”.
He expressed solidarity with the students and said the Rajshahi University had not seen such big movement before. “The students are fighting for their legitimate demands,” he said.
He urged the government to meet their demands.
“If Shibir has a presence there, let them be identified,” the Jatiya Party leader said.
Responding to the demands of the Opposition Chief Whip, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury said, “Those who were involved in the attack have been expelled.
“Government efforts are on to get to the bottom of the incident. Punishment can be given only though a trial.”-bdnews24.com
