Students-teachers seek bloggers’ release

Students and teachers of the Dhaka University on Saturday gheraoed the office of the Vice Chancellor demanding unconditional release of a student arrested on charges of blasphemy.

Dhaka University Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 13 April 2013, 05:12 AM
Updated : 13 April 2013, 05:12 AM

They held a rally in front of ‘Aporajeyo Bangla’ before moving towards the VC’s office in a procession. They were said to be sitting in front of the office with VC AAMS Arefin Siddique inside when the reports last came in.

Addressing the rally, DU History teacher Mesbah Kamal warned the government saying, "Don't sail in two boats simultaneously. Fundamentalists never voted for you and will never do so. So, stop trying to please the fundamentalists by arresting the bloggers."

He urged the Prime Minister to free the bloggers. "Freethinkers like Subrata Adhikari Shuvo will stand by your side. So, take their side."

DU Bangla Department teacher Rafiq Ullah Khan said, "The freethinker bloggers did not hurt Islam, but it was those who used Islam for political gains did."

DU teachers Mashiur Rahman, Fahmidul Haq, Sirazul Islam and students were present at the rally, among others.

Shuvo, a post-graduate student of the Bangla Department, was arrested by the Detective Police from the campus on the night of Apr 1 without the permission of the university authorities.

Two other bloggers - Mashiur Rahman Biplob and Russell Parvez - were also arrested the same day.