No classes and other academic activities were held at Dhaka University and other major educational institutions of the country on Tuesday as left-leaning student organisations observed strike demanding exemplary punishment of the Rana Plaza owner.
The Progressive Students’ Alliance, a platform of left student organisations, enforced the strike in protest at the deaths caused by the collapse of the multi-storey building at Savar.
At Dhaka University, the protesters locked the main gate of the arts, business and science faculty buildings in the morning.
They also put up posters in favour of their demand and urged all to join
the programme spontaneously.
No classes and other academic activities, except examinations, were held on the day.
The demonstrators said they would not accept such tragic incidents caused by the negligence of the garment factory and building owners.
‘The students have expressed their solidarity with our strike,’ said Samajtantrik Chhatra Front DU unit president Rashed Shahriar.
Central unit of the alliance also held a rally in front of the arts building where, among others, Bangladesh Chhatra Union president SM Shuva, Saifuzzaman Shakon of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, Biplabi Chhatra Moitri general secretary Sadik-ur-Rahman spoke.
Their other demands include ensuring safety measures for the garment workers in the country, providing the Savar victims with Tk 5 lakh as compensation, proper medicare for the wounded labourers and implementing democratic labour act.
The strike was also observed at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Jagannath, Jahangirnagar and Chittagong Universities, Eden Women’s College, Titumir College, Dhaka College and others.
The alliance leaders at a press conference at Madhur Canteen on April 27 called the strike demanding highest punishment of those involved in the building collapse.
New Age correspondent at Chittagong University reported that the pickets on Monday blocked the university-bound shuttle train at the city’s old railway station.
Due to the blockade the train service remained suspended for two hours and a half between the university and city.
The alliance activists held demonstration in the station area and brought out a protest procession.
Being informed, members of the university proctorail body rushed to the spot and tried to persuade the students to withdraw the blockade. Later the train service resumed at around 10:00am.
Expressing solidarity with the strike, the CU students boycotted the classes.
CU proctor Siraj Uddowla said leaders and activists of the alliance blocked the train for three hours but classes of a number of departments were held amid the strike on the campus.
-With New Age input
