Even after one year of the attack by the banned Chhatra League on protesting students at Barishal University (BU), justice has not been served. Rather, the accused leaders and activists of the banned Chhatra League are still roaming openly, alleged the students.
In this situation, as part of the month-long program of the July mass uprising, they have proposed to observe the ‘League Expulsion’ program on next July 17.
On Wednesday (July 9) at 4 pm in a meeting held at the Vice-Chancellor’s office, on behalf of the students, Saurav Roy, a student of the 2018-19 session of the Finance and Banking Department, made this proposal. In addition, the university administration has taken a total of 13 programs. Among the programs are: July students’ victory rally and victory feast, July ambassador and award giving, short film and video screening, poster and slogan competition, “July 36” thought competition, essay, poetry, painting and graffiti competition, remembrance video share, honoring families of martyrs and the injured (by giving crests), inauguration of “July Corner”, construction of “July 36” memorial, discussion meeting and reminiscence on the occasion of “July Martyrs Day”, celebration of “Day Free of Autocracy”.
Saurav Roy, a student of the 2018-19 session of the Finance and Banking Department, said, “I am an injured fighter of the July movement. There has been no justice for Chhatra League’s attack on our campus. They are still freely roaming the campus. Let the month-long movement begin with the ‘League Expulsion’ program.” At this time, he also proposed some other protest programs.
Mosharraf Hossain, a student of the History Department present at the meeting, said, “It is shameful for us that there has been no justice for Chhatra League. Let a new chapter of the movement begin through the ‘Chhatra League Expulsion’ program on July 17.”
Students alleged that not only Chhatra League, but also some teachers who instigated from behind to suppress the movement must be brought to justice. Mokabbel Sheikh, a student of Public Administration Department, said, “You (VC) have called all teachers and students, but only a handful have attended. The main reason for this is that accomplices of fascism are sitting in every department. They do not want the July movement to succeed. Without justice, no program will be successful.”
Mainul Islam, a student of the Law Department, said, “Without justice how can we sit in the same program with Awami accomplice teachers?”
At the meeting, BU interim Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammad Toufiq Alam felt embarrassed to speak on this issue. He told the students to talk ‘to the point’, that is, about determining the month-long event programs. Later when asked for his opinion, he expressed his inability to speak on the matter.
However, when asked, Registrar (Additional Duty) Md. Mohsin Uddin said, “We are committed to the students. On the coming July 18 we will announce the ‘League Expulsion’. Though the issue of teachers is a bit complicated, we are in principle agreed.”
