Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders and activists on Sunday blocked Shahbagh intersection in the capital for nearly two hours, demanding justice for the murder of Shahriar Alam Shammo.
They also called for the immediate resignation of Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor (VC) Niaz Ahmed and Proctor Saifuddin Ahmed alleging administrative negligence for the killing.
The JCD activists began their demonstrations around 3:45pm occupying Shahbagh intersection and it continued for around two hours.
The demonstrations triggered severe traffic gridlock in and around the area.
The blockade was lifted at around 5:30pm.
Protesters chanted slogans such as "Justice for Shammo," "We want justice," and "Dayittogyanhin Proshahon Nipat Jak,".
Leaders and activists from the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal as well as various units across the capital took part in the protest.
Earlier in the day, DU Chhatra Dal staged a black flag procession to press home the same demands.
The procession started at 2pm from the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University and marched various parts of the campus before ending at the base of the Aparajeyo Bangla monument.
Addressing the rally, DU Chhatra Dal President Ganesh Chandra Roy Saha said, “The Vice-Chancellor and Proctor have destroyed the trust that student organisations once had in the university administration.”
Meanwhile, ‘Shada Dal’, a pro-BNP platform of DU teacehrs, issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding justice for the murder.
At a human chain in front of Aparajeyo Bangla, the platform’s convener Morshed Hasan Khan alleged, “The arrest made in the Shammo case is merely eyewash. If the real killer is not identified, we will launch a tougher movement.”
Pro-BNP teachers hold human chain
A section of Dhaka University teachers of ‘Sada Dal’, a platform of pro-BNP teachers, held a human chain on Sunday demanding justice for Shammo's murder and a safe campus.
They formed the human chain around 11:30 am at the base of university's Aparajeya Bangla.
Leaders of Sada Dal, provosts of various halls, teachers and many officers of the university were present at the programme.
The speakers claimed that the murder was pre-planned but a group is framing this as an accident.
Convener Prof Morshed Hasan Khan warned of greater movement giving a 48-hour ultimatum to find the actual culprits.
Sada Dal joint convener Prof Abdus Salam said, “We want justice for Shammo's murder. Meeting are being arranged but there is no progress except the arrest of three culprits. We want a safe campus. Students come here to study in a safe environment.”
“There is no such university in the world like Dhaka University where a lot of outsiders stay. During the fascist’s regime Suhrawardy Udyan was used as their rally's place and DU as a parking area.”
Abdus Salam demanded handing over the responsibility of Suhrawardy Udyan to Dhaka University authorities.
