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| Bangladesh |
| Riot at Rajshahi University |
| 2009-03-14 |
| Rajshahi University (RU) was closed for an indefinite period yesterday following sporadic clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) that left university unit ICS general secretary Sharifuzzaman Nomani killed and at least 100 people injured. The RU authorities at an emergency meeting held at 1:00 pm also asked the male students to vacate their dormitories by 5:00 pm yesterday while the female students by 10:00 am today. Rajshahi Medical College (RMC) and Rajshahi Government College were also closed sine die following the RU clash. Sources said, the RMC authorities at an emergency meeting also asked its students to vacate their hostels by 5:00 pm yesterday. The male students of Rajshahi government college were also asked to vacate their dorms by 5:00pm yesterday while the female students by 10:00 am today. RU sources said the clash ensued on RU campus yesterday following Wednesday's attack by ICS men on the BCL activists. Besides the BCL and ICS men, some general students, journalists, police, local businessmen, local Awami League (AL) activists were also injured in the yesterday's violent clashes while around 100 rooms of BCL were ransacked. Seriously injured 60 persons, mostly BCL men, were admitted to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) while the rest were given first aid at RU Medical Centre and private clinics. Additional police were deployed on the campus where a tense situation was prevailing. POLICE RAIDS AND SHIBIR ATTACK Earlier on Thursday night, BCL RU unit president Ibrahim Hossain Moon filed a case against 500 Shibir men in connection with Wednesday's incident that left at least 20 BCL men injured. Following the case, police started raiding in all the 11 male dormitories at about 3:00am and detained about 68 Shibir men. After the raid, Shibir cadres locked entrances of all the dormitories and attacked BCL men who were asleep at about 4:30 am and took control of the halls. Over 30 students were injured, 15 of them seriously, in the attack at Suhrawardy and Shamsozoha halls. BCL activists with the help of police rescued their fellows from the two halls at about 7:30 am. In the meantime, BCL men locked the entrances to all the male halls from outside, confining Shibir men inside of the halls. SHIBIR CLASHES WITH LOCAL BUSINESSMEN The Shibir activists who reside in Binodpur area near the university also attacked BCL activists and local Awami League (AL) workers protesting the confinement of their fellow students at the halls. Later, an hour-long clash ensued at about 10:00 am between Shibir activists and local businessmen and AL activists on Dhaka-Rajshahi highway that left 12 people injured. Shibir cadres also ransacked local business establishments, AL activists houses and BCL men controlled messes during the clash. Hearing the rumour of the death of Rajshahi City unit Swechchhasevak League member Robiul Islam Robi, several hundred local people blocked the highway. However, the condition of Robi, also a local businessman, was stated to be critical. ANOTHER SHIBIR ATTACK AND FIERCE CLASH At about 12:00 noon again clash erupted between BCL and ICS while ICS men tried to enter into the Sher-e-Bangla hall to rescue their fellows. Sources said, both groups exchanged 100 rounds of bullet during the clash, leaving two Shibir activists wounded. Jahangir Hossain, assistant commissioner of police, Motiher zone, said police used tear gas shells and rubber bullets to control the situation. At one stage, BCL men swooped on the hall that left 30 people injured, including the RU unit ICS general secretary. The injured were admitted to RMCH where Nomani died after admission. After the clash, ICS men physically assaulted RU proctor, assistant proctor and students adviser in Bangabandhu hall as they had gone there to rescue the BCL men. RU Vice Chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan told The Daily Star that university authorities took the decision of closing it to deal with the situation. BCL RU unit president Ibrahim Hossain Moon alleged that Shibir attacked on his men in a preplanned way. Shibir president Delwar Hossain Sayeedi blamed BCL for the attack and demanded exemplary punishment of those who killed its secretary. Among others injured are BCL RU unit president Ibrahim Hossain Moon, assistant secretary Apu, cultural secretary Joy, BCL activists Niaz, Suvro, Alamgir, Ismail, Sawpon, Anwar, Himu, Rashel, Dip, Roni, Ranju, Juwel, Arif, Komol, Hanif, Kawser, Mustofa, Obaidur, Tuhin and Mamun. Shibir organising secretary Farhad Alam and its activists Razzak, Raihan, Zinna, Asraful, Aziz, local Salim, Shafiqul and Hanif. Local businessmen Khalek and Solaiman, Prothom Alo's photojournalist Azhar Uddin, daily Independent RU Correspondent Mamun, police constables Mohibul and Anwar, City Ward No. 30 AL general secretary Shahidul Islam, AL activists Shamim, Babu and passersby Shamim, Islam and Ruhul Amin. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Sounds like the Islamists think they've got a large enough part of the population to impose Sharia, and those that oppose them are being "taught to bow down to their betters". Pakistan is behind it, of course, hoping that the Indians will be forced to become involved, and will turn away from Pakistan's activities on India's western border. Pakistan is about due for another one of their bi-decadal thumpings from India, and the pakistanis are trying to delay it for as long as possible. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2009-03-14 15:06 |
| #4 It's just a Shibir frat boy thingy. I don't understand why they made the co-eds go home, though -- it sounds like they were behaving as they ought. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2009-03-14 14:40 |
| #3 Islamic Spring Break ™ |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-03-14 13:47 |
| #2 Yes, I've been wondering that for decades. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2009-03-14 13:07 |
| #1 Fred - what the hell is going on in Bangladesh? |
| Posted by: 3dc 2009-03-14 12:49 |