Staff Reporter:
Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) on Thursday, joined by some leftist student groups, padlocked three academic buildings as well as the administrative building of Dhaka University (DU) demanding speedy justice for the murder of JCD activist Shahriar Samyo and the resignation of DU vice-chancellor.
They also rejected the half-day mourning called by the university authority on Thursday, and urged general students to observe a full-day shutdown of all university activities.
Sakib Biswas, office secretary of JCD’s DU Bijoy Ekattor Hall unit, said he and his fellow protesters had padlocked the buildings of Arts Faculty, Social Science Faculty and Business Faculty as well as the administrative building.
Speaking at a protest march, he also said the protesters would soon padlock the Science Faculty Buildings at Curzon Hall.
An obscure group named “Santrashbirodhi Shikkharthibrindo (Students Against Terrorism),” allegedly led by JCD and some leftist groups, took the initiative to put padlocks on DU buildings.
In the afternoon, JCD leaders and activists were also due to stage a rally at the foots of the Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture on DU campus calling for the resignation of the university’s vice-chancellor and proctor.
Earlier, in the noon, JCD held a sit-in in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s residence. At the time, they wore black badges as a symbol of mourning and outrage.
Chhatra Dal leaders alleged that the university administration has failed to ensure student safety on campus, which they believe contributed to Samoy’s death at the hands of miscreants near the campus at Suhrawardy Uddyan on Tuesday night.
“The administration cannot escape responsibility. We want justice, and we want it now,” declared a protesting leader during the sit-in in front of the VC’s residence.
JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib accused the authorities of negligence, stating, “Hasina’s killer’s accomplices are still staying on the DU premises. We warned the administration several times to take action, but they didn’t listen. As a result, my brother Samoy was murdered.”
DU branch JCD President Ganesh Chandra Roy Sahas echoed similar sentiments, expressing frustration over repeated inaction by the university administration. “Before August 5, there had not been a single murder on this campus in years. But within nine months, two students have been killed. We submitted memorandums to the VC demanding improved campus safety, but no measures were taken,” he said.
“We do not want to see the proctor who failed to protect students remain in office. We also demand the resignation of the vice-chancellor,” he added.
As part of the protest, several university buildings – including the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Social Sciences – were locked by Chhatra Dal activists, causing disruption to academic activities.
Chhatra Dal’s central committee also announced a nationwide programme to be held across all educational institutions, demanding justice for Samoy and accountability from campus authorities. Thursday’s protest was part of a coordinated demonstration observed simultaneously in various parts of the country.
