Photo: Collected
The students of seven colleges have announced their decision to withdraw their 24-hour ultimatum to implement their demands, including the resignation of DU Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamun Ahmed. A day after announcing their ultimatum, they have now backtracked from their stance after a meeting with Home Affairs Adviser retired Lieutenant General Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury at his office at the Secretariat. Adviser Nahid Islam was also present at the meeting.
Representing the students, Dhaka College student Muinul Islam told reporters after the meeting he was assured that Dhaka University authorities would take care of their demand regarding the Pro-VC stepping down.
"We are withdrawing our ultimatum as most of the six-point demands have been heard by the home adviser and others concerned," he said.
After the meeting, the home adviser told reporters, "I was taken back to my college days after meeting two of the alumni of the same college. We discussed some things and we agreed to a point."
Students of seven colleges welcome separation from DU, issue 24-hour ultimatum for other demands
Regarding the decision taken by authorities of Dhaka University (DU) and the colleges to end the affiliation between them, Muinul said, "The separation decision has already been made and is under process. It was our first and foremost demand which has already been met.
"We believe if DU Pro Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamun Ahmed apologised early on, things would not have unfolded this way and the clashes wouldn't have taken place. He is the person behind all this, we believe. As the university authorities told us they will take care of the issue regarding him, we have no objection for now," he added.
Muinul continued that another issue was raised in the meeting regarding an alleged incident of Dhaka University students virtually harassing Eden College students. "The university authorities also promised to take action in this regard."
He also said the home ministry sought three days to look into the allegations of policemen attacking the students during the clashes on Sunday night.
"The police who attacked us, we demanded their withdrawal from the posts," said Muinul.
"Lastly, we had another demand that the Dhaka University area would be open to all citizens, which the university authorities claimed has already been made open for all." The clash that began around 11pm on Sunday (26 January) between students of DU and seven colleges in the capital's Nilkhet area continued until late at night.
Police fired sound grenades, tear gas canisters, and rubber bullets to control the situation amid repeated chases and chase and counterchases between feuding students. At one point authorities called out four platoons of paramilitary Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to the scene to control the situation along with police.
Messenger/JRTarek
