Amid the ongoing student movement across the country, killings, arrests without any crime, filing of false cases and insulting teachers are taking place, reads a statement of the clubs of Chittagong University.
Many innocent students have been forcibly detained by the law enforcement agencies at different times in this agitated situation, the statement reads.
Hriday Chandra Tarua, a student of the 2020-21 session of History Department, University of Chittagong was martyred in the movement. Already more than 12 students of Chittagong University were wrongfully arrested and baseless cases were filed, says the statement.
Such false cases and harassment during peaceful siting programme is totally unacceptable, said the clubs. All the clubs of Chittagong University are protesting against such arrest and harassment.
In the same context, many ordinary students of Chittagong University were seriously injured after being attacked by law enforcement agencies while protesting. Many of them are in critical condition. The like-minded clubs of Chittagong University have agreed to take the following steps in this situation and are presenting their demands to the university administration.
- University and residential halls should be opened immediately while ensuring the safety of students and creating an environment for learning.
- In the current critical situation, the university administration should immediately form a ‘Student Support Cell’ under the leadership of the teachers and free the students participating in the student movement who were wrongfully detained by the law and order forces from police custody:
a) Provision of unconditional release under the leadership of at least one teacher under each police station on an emergency basis, for those who have not been sent to the court;
b) To take the initiative to arrange bail by experienced lawyers for those who have been sent to court and given false cases; - Provision of financial assistance from funds created by teachers and students to ensure the recovery of those students participating in the quota reform movement who are hospitalized with serious injuries;
- Under the leadership of the lawyers among the alumni of Chittagong University’s law department, taking the initiative to provide all-round legal assistance and arrange bail;
- Ensuring full (financial, legal, institutional) support to the students of the University who have been affected in the ongoing movement.