Bangladesh
Rajshahi University Tension erupts at RU after student mowed down by truck inside campus, university's proctor removed
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, February 2: Tension erupted at Rajshahi University (RU) after its student was reportedly mowed down by a truck inside the RU campus on Tuesday. Due to this incident, the RU administration has removed the university's proctor, Dr. Liaquat Ali, amid a massive demonstration by the students.
RU vice-chancellor, Professor Golam Sabbir Sattar, made the announcement in front of the agitating students in front of his residence at around 1:30 am on Tuesday (February 1).
Mahmud Habib Himel, a fourth-year student in the Department of Graphic Design Crafts and History of Art, was killed when a truck carrying construction materials knocked him down while the student was riding a motorcycle on the road adjacent to the Shaheed Habibur Rahman Hall of the university around 8:45 pm on Tuesday. Since then, students at a large number have been protesting, demanding justice for the death of their classmates. They set five trucks on fire. The agitating students also blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway.
Later at 11:30 pm, the students staged a protest march in front of the vice-chancellor's residence. Protesting students set fire in the middle of the road and chanted slogans such as 'What does the administration do, students die on campus', 'Unjust will be drifted by the flood of blood', and 'Why my brother died, we want answer from the administration'.
The students said, "We will not accept such injustice anymore. Earlier, a construction worker fell from the roof of the RU auditorium and died due to negligence of the administration. Today my brother has been mowed down by truck. After how many deaths will the administration be happy?" The protesting students also mentioned repeated incidents of snatching on campus.
While protesting, the students demanded the resignation of the university's proctor. They said, "our brother has been killed, but the proctor did not come to the scene. Then why is he kept? We want the proctor to resign."
Meanwhile, police have arrested the driver of the truck, which reportedly mowed down RU student Mahmud Habib Himel, from Balia village under Kashiadanga Police Station in Rajshahi around 1:15 pm on Wednesday (February 2). The detainee has been identified as Titu, 42, son of Jahangir Alam of Balia village.
