BUET students continue protest against attack, demand permanent gates

Students of the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology or BUET have continued demanding punishment for attackers from outside the campus and permanent gates at Polashi and Bakshibazar intersections.

They did not join classes and take exams on Wednesday as part of the boycott announced on Sunday for the eight-point demand and vowed to continue the protests until their demands are met.

Students attached with Dhaka University's Shaheed Sergeant Zahurul Haque Hall clashed with BUET students on Friday following an operation by the latter to drive away outsiders from their campus. At least five BUET students were injured in the clashes.

BUET Directorate of Students' Welfare in a statement on Tuesday informed the protesters about the institution of a committee to investigate incident initially, installation of temporary barriers and additional security cameras at Polashi and Bakshibazar intersections, removal of illegal structures, and closure of the entrances to the footbridge at Shaheed Minar area.

It also informed the students about reminding police to arrest 'Raju', an employee's son living in the BUET staff quarters and implicated as the prime suspect in a case over the attack, and his associates. Raju and his associates are allegedly drug peddlers.

But the students of the engineering university have not paid any heed to the authorities' call for going back to classes.

Ahsan Rabbi Khan, one of the key organisers of the protest, told bdnews24.com: "Our teachers agree with our demands. But they've asked for time to implement the demands. We have given them time. We will launch fresh demonstrations if our demands are not met by the time."

Asked why they were not returning to classes then, he said, "In reality, it's seen that the authorities assure protesters of meeting demands but show apathy in implementation later. So we are not returning to classes until the demands are met."

Another organiser, Partha Prateem Das, said they gave the authorities an ultimatum of Nov 10.

"We are not returning to classes and labs until our demands are met," he said adding that they were not announcing any fresh demonstration now.

BUET Directorate of Students' Welfare Director Satya Prasad Majmder said, "We've fulfilled all but one of their demands. They are not agreeing to return to classes until permanent gates at Polashi and Bakshibazar are set up."

He also said there were some limitations of raising gates on public streets.

"The vice-chancellor will return from abroad on Thursday. He will take the decision on the issue," he added.