BCL activists run riot at Chittagong University demanding teacher's removal

A group of Bangladesh Chhatra League members led by suspects in murder of their fellow Diaz Irfan Chowdhury have rampaged through the Chittagong University demanding sacking of a teacher.

The protesters alleged the teacher, Institute of Education and Research Associate Professor Md Amir Uddin, was recruited illegally.

Amir, however, earlier said he had received death threats for his involvement in a movement against changing the process to collect holding tax that has 'led to a hike'.

The protesters vandalised a car of a teacher in front of the vice chancellor's office and planted tubs on a corridor of the building on Tuesday afternoon before laying a brief siege, witnesses said. 

The BCL group, led by the president of the unit's suspended committee, Alamgir Tipu, are known to be supporters of Chittagong Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin.

Teacher Amir said Mayor Nasir's followers pulled a gun on his head on Monday and asked him to leave the movement against the change relating to holding tax.

Besides Diaz murder case, Tipu is accused of murdering two at CRB.

He was present along with three others accused of murdering Diaz at the demonstration, according to witnesses.

The three others are Mansur Alam, Abu Torab Parash and Md Arman.

After the rampage, the protesters took out a procession and closed the main gate of the campus. They took position there after marching throughout the campus.          

"There was vandalism. Now a procession is under way. The main gate has been closed," Sub-Inspector Md Kamruzzaman at the campus police camp told bdnews24.com around 1:30pm.

Mizanur Rahman, a BCL leader of the suspended committee, said they launched the demonstration as the authorities 'took no step' to remove Amir within a day.

They submitted a memorandum to Vice-Chancellor Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury calling for the removal of the teacher.

Neither Ifthekhar nor Amir could be reached for comments on Tuesday.