BUET students end boycott of classes

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET have announced an end to their boycott of classes, which they started demanding justice for peers attacked by outsiders.

The students at the country’s leading engineering institution had clashed with students tied to Dhaka University's Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall over a ‘drive to remove outsiders’ on Oct 26-27.

Five BUET students were injured in the incident.

BUET students started boycotting classes on Oct 29, demanding those involved in the violence be brought to justice.

A spokesperson for the protesters said they decided to call off the boycott after the university authorities assured them of taking proper measures.

“We had a meeting with director of students’ welfare offices Professor Satya Prasad Majumder. He has assured us that all of our demands will be met,” said Ahsab Rabbi Khan, a fourth-year student at the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department.

“We are returning to classes and other academic activities on Saturday.”

The media will soon be briefed about the BUET’s stance on the whole incident, Khan said.

BUET's Directorate of Student's Welfare Director Prof Satya Prasad Majumder echoed him.

The authorities had already formed a committee to set up two gates, one at Palashi and the other at Bakshibazar, to meet the demands of students, he said.

Protest convener and mechanical engineering department student Partha Protim Das, however, said the students would continue with the protests until the demands were met.

“We are returning to classes considering the bigger picture but the movement does not end here,” said Partha.

Prof Satya Prasad had started a case over the incident at Chowkbazar Police Station against the son of an employee, Raju, and several others. Police detained Raju, but students claim he was released on bail in no time.

Dhaka University and BUET have each formed a committee to investigate the incident. But neither has submitted a report, even three weeks into the skirmish.