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Madrasa students vandalise Dhaku U. VC office
 A group of recent madrasa graduates vandalised the office of Dhaka University (DU) Vice-chancellor (VC) Prof SMA Faiz yesterday spreading panic on the campus. The vandals were demanding cancellation of the university authorities' decision to not allow admission to students who did not study Bangla and English of 200 marks each in their higher secondary or equivalent courses. About 200 madrasa students from different city madrasas along with some DU students embarked on the vandalism around 4:30pm, eyewitnesses said. Six departments of DU this year decided not to allow admission to students who did not study Bangla and English of 200 marks each in their higher secondary or equivalent courses, and the DU committee of deans recently approved the decision. The attackers vandalised doors, window panes, furniture and other office decorations. "It was unimaginable what they did here today, such an incident never happened before in the history of the university. They should be arrested for the offence," Prof Faiz told reporters at a news briefing following the vandalism. He said the attackers started ransacking his office in front of him, when he told them that the university authorities' decision is final and there is no chance of changing it now. The attackers threatened him saying they will not let the university run normally, if they cannot get admission, the VC added. Prof Faiz however assured the irate madrasa graduates that the university authorities will discuss the matter in future considering their grievances, but the current decision is final for this year. The VC expressed his astonishment at the fact that the vandals left the office and the DU campus without any resistance after the vandalism. "I immediately contacted the police and that was the very first time I ever called them to take action, as it was too much," Prof Faiz added. When asked whether the attackers were DU students or outsiders, Prof Faiz said, "They came to me as students -- I couldn't specifically identify anybody." But other DU sources said the attackers were from different madrasas of the city who were accompanied by some DU students who had also studied in madrasas before getting admitted to the university. Some student leaders however alleged that the attackers were brought in, supported and escorted by Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Islamist political party Jamaat-e-Islami. Posted by: Fred 2008-10-19 |
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