Rajshahi colleges, institutes shut
33 BCL men sued over killing of Shibir GS

All higher educational institutions in the city, including Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet), Rajshahi New Degree College, City College, Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute and Institute of Health Technology, were closed sine die yesterday following violent clashes at Rajshahi University.Earlier on Friday, RU was closed for an indefinite period following sporadic clashes between Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) that left university unit ICS general secretary Sharifuzzaman Nomani killed and at least 100 people injured.Rajshahi Medical College and Rajshahi College were also shut down on Friday following the RU clash.Sources said, Ruet authorities at an emergency meeting also asked its male students to vacate their halls by 5:30 pm yesterday while the female students by 10.00 am today.Besides, the authorities of other higher educational institutions yesterday held separate emergency meetings and also asked its students to vacate their dormitories.Sources said, the examinations of the Rajshahi Polytechnic Institute will be held as per the schedule.RU unit ICS organising secretary Farhad Alam yesterday filed a case against over 33 BCL men with Motiher police station in connection with the killing of its general secretary Sharifuzzaman Nomani.BCL RU unit president Ibrahim Hossain Moon, cultural secretary Joy and legal affairs secretary Roni, among others, were made accused in the case.The RU authorities formed a probe committee at its syndicate meeting yesterday to investigate the Friday's violence at RU.The provost council of RU also met RU Vice-chancellor Prof Abdus Sobhan at his office and discussed the campus situation.Later, an hour-long meeting was held at RU VC Lounge with VC Abdus Sobhan in the chair to discuss law and order on the campus.DC Shefaul Karim, Police Commissioner Mahbub Mohsin, Additional Police Commissioner Hafizur Rahman, Deputy Police Commissioner Sazzadur Rahman, Assistant Police Commissioner Zahangir Hossain and Motiher thana OC Rafiqul Islam were also present in the meeting.When contacted RU Proctor Prof Zakaria told The Daily Star that its registrar will file a case with the police station in connection with Friday's violence.Restriction has been imposed on entry in RU campus while check posts set up at the entry points of the university.Additional police have been deployed on the campus to avert further clash.Pro-Awami League teachers of RU yesterday in a statement expressed their deep concern over the Friday's bloody clashes and demanded exemplary punishment of those responsible for the violence.DC Shefaul Karim told the newsmen that Rajshahi administration will give all-out support to the RU authorities to ensure a congenial atmosphere on the campus.Teachers, including RU proctor, assistant proctor and student adviser, visited the injured BCL and ICS men at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital and other clinics.Syndicate members of Rajshahi University at an emergency meeting held at yesterday night urged the government to form a judicial investigation committee on the Friday's bloody clashes.The meeting concluded at 9.00 pm without formation of any investigation committee on the incident. Sources said, five syndicate members out of eight were Pro-Jamaat supporters criticised the role of RU authorities for the campus violence.The meeting urged all to cooperate with the RU authorities to regain the congenial atmosphere on the campus.Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in Rajshahi yesterday blamed Awami League for the Friday's violence that resulted in closure of all public higher educational institutions in the city while Awami League criticised Jamaat for patronising the violence.Critising the role of police during the violence, Rajshahi City Mayor Liton also alleged that police favoured the Shibir cadres.Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS), student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, yesterday demanded formation of judicial probe committee to investigate the killing of its leader Nomani. The demand came at a protest rally held at city's Muktangon in Dhaka