Students demand punishment to Fakhruddin, Moeen, Bari

DU observes ‘Black Day’ today
Students demand punishment to Fakhruddin, Moeen, Bari
As the Dhaka University authorities observe ‘Black Day’ today (Sunday), different student organizations working on the DU campus have demanded exemplary punishment to former Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, former Army Chief Moeen U Ahmed and former DGFI Director Brigadier Fazlul Bari for unleashing oppression on the teachers and students across the country following the August 20-22, 2007 student unrest.
They also demanded withdrawal of all cases filed against students and teachers following the incident. Student bodies including Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Bangladesh Chhatra Moitree and JSD Chhatra League staged separate demonstrations on the campus in protest against the heinous act of the then emergency government.
At a rally at the premises of Aparajeyo Bangla, JCD leaders demanded immediate arrest of Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Moeen U Ahmed.
“That unconstitutional government established a reign of terror in the country, snatched away basic rights of people and attempted to depoliticize the country. Fakhruddin and Moeen U Ahmed should get punitive punishment for their crimes against country people,” said JCD DU Convener Abdul Matin.
He, however, expressed his doubt whether the Awami League government is interested to do anything against the former Chief Adviser and the former Army Chief.
“This government is reluctant to take any action against Fakhruddin and Moeen as they steered them to power through 2009 general election,” he said.
However, Awami League’s student front Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) did not hold any protest programme yesterday against the atrocities on the students and teachers unleashed by the then government, nor has it taken up any programme for today.
When this correspondent questioned as to why they did not hold any programme marking the incident, BCL DU President Sohel Rana Tipu could not give any satisfactory answer.
However, the Dhaka University authorities will observe today (Sunday) as ‘Black Day’ marking the crackdown on the teachers on August 23, 2007.
All classes of the university will remain suspended from 11am to 1pm today while a discussion will be held at TSC auditorium at 11am with DU VC Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique in the chair.
On August 20, 2007, a brawl erupted between some students and soldiers during a football match at the DU gymnasium where an army camp was stationed. The incident sparked violent protest across the country forcing the government to impose curfew on August 22 in all metropolitan cities.
All public universities were declared closed and halls were vacated following the violence. Nine teachers of the University of Dhaka and Rajshahi were arrested for their alleged ‘provocation’ behind the violence.

Courtesy of The Bangladesh Today