Pragatishil Chhatra Jote calls strike at DU Mar 2

Pragatishil Chhatra Jote, a combine of leftist student organisations, has called a strike at Dhaka University campus on March 2 to realise its three-point demand including immediate arrest and punishment for the killers of secular writer Avijit Roy.

Hasan Tarek, Chhatra Union president and convener of the alliance, came up with the announcement at a press briefing at Madhur Canteen on DU campus this afternoon.

Talking on allegation of the police inaction at the murder scene of Avijit Roy, Tarek said, "It's a shame".

The alliance will hold a meeting with teachers, student and mass people expressing solidarity with them, who have been protesting the murder, at 3:00pm on March 3 at Shahbagh. They will also submit a memorandum to the home minister the following day.

Tarek also demanded the attackers of Dr Humayun Azad, a teacher of Dhaka University, be brought to justice immediately.

They also requested the authorities concerned to stop "state interference" on media's right to freedom of expression.

Earlier in the day, a procession marched past the campus led by Chhatra Federation President Saikat Mallik.

The 42-year-old writer and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya was hacked to death near TSC on Dhaka University campus on Thursday night.

Avijit's killing triggered strong condemnations from his fellow writers and publishers at home and abroad, who lamented the growing religious conservatism and intolerance in Bangladesh.

He was the founder of Mukto-Mona (Free-mind) blog site, which champions liberal secular writing in Bangladesh.