Attack on Chhatra Odhikar: Its president issues 7-day ultimatum

Bangladesh Chhatra Odhikar Parishad President Bin Yeamin Molla has threatened that he would die by suicide if the Dhaka University authorities do not punish within seven days the Chhatra League leaders and activists who carried out an attack on parishad men in TSC area five days ago.

The ultimatum was issued yesterday when a group of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad leaders met DU Proctor Prof AKM Golam Rabbani at his office on the campus around 4:15pm.

Speaking to The Daily Star, Molla said, "I told the proctor sir that I will die by suicide if we do not get justice."

Parishad leaders said the proctor assured them of taking steps against the accused Chhatra League men after discussions with the university high-ups.

They also submitted a memorandum to the proctor. They mentioned that nine Chhatra League leaders and activists were involved in the attack.

Around 10:45am on February 18, leaders and activists of Chhatra Odhikar Parishad started heading towards the TSC in a procession to join a programme marking its fifth founding anniversary. At one stage, they came under an attack allegedly from some Chhatra League men. At least 10 parishad men were injured.

The parishad in its memorandum said Chhatra League through this attack undermined people's basic rights like freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, and freedom of organisation as mentioned in articles 36, 37 and 38 of Bangladesh's constitution.

Due to such activities of the Chhatra League, co-existence of all active student organisations on campus is being threatened and the educational environment is also being degraded, it added.

DU Chhatra League General Secretary Tanbir Hasan Shaikat denied the allegation of attacking Chhatra Odhikar Parishad men.