Release of GS

Staff Correspondent

Dozens of Bangladesh Chhatra League activists staged a sit-in in front of Dhaka University vice chancellor's office on Wednesday in a bid to pressure authorities into releasing the general secretary of the Awami League's student front.

They, however, withdrew the demonstration later after VC Professor SMA Faiz sought time until 7.00pm to make headway with the release of Mahfuzul Haider Chowdhury Roton.

BCL acting general secretary Syed Abdul Kalam told bdnews24.com that the VC had talks with the government high-ups about the release. And the matter drew the attention of the government, Kalam said quoting Faiz.

Earlier on Wednesday, Roton's father Afsar Uddin Haider Chowdhury met the VC.

The BCL on Tuesday called a strike at Dhaka University for Wednesday for the same cause only to call it off shortly afterwards on assurance by university authorities that their demand would be taken care of.

Earlier on the same day, the activists confined the VC for three hours inside his office. About 150 adherents surrounded the VC's office in the administrative building at around 4pm, demanding release of Roton from Mymensingh jail.

BCL's DU president Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu told bdnews24.com that the strike was called off "for the time being", after the VC requested time until Wednesday noon to resolve the issue.

BCL activist Shamsul Kabir Rahat told bdnews24.com Tuesday that Roton had been freed from Mymensingh jail at about 10:30am Tuesday, and was kept seated in the visiting room of the jail.

Police later rearrested him from the visiting room at around 2:30pm, Rahat said.

The news prompted the BCL leaders and supporters to march on to the VC's office, under the banner of "Human Rights Conscious Students", saying they would continue their protest until action was taken about Roton.

The activists had earlier damaged teachers' vehicles parked outside of the administrative building, and locked the main gates with the vice chancellor and other university officials held inside.

Joint forces arrested Roton on Jan 18, 2007, on charges of violating Emergency Powers Rules. BCL observed a 24-hour token hunger strike demanding his release on Sunday.

Comments

Add New

Write comment
Name:
Email:	We don't publish your mail. See privacy policy.
Title:
	Please input the anti-spam code that you can read in the image.