The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

The situation on the Dhaka University Campus is turning explosivegradually over the release of the two party chiefs of BNP and Awami League and price-hike of essentials across the country.

Student organisations and the students of the university under the different banners are holding various protest programmes demanding the transfer of power to the elected representatives of the people by holding national elections.

They also opposed the visit of President Dr Iajuddin Ahmed and Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed to the campus to participate in two functions separately.

Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) hoisted black flag on the top of Arts Faculty building yesterday in protest against the visit of President and Chief Adviser to the campus and brought out a silent procession wearing black ribbon on their face as part of their protest programme demanding proper treatment and release of AL chief Sheikh Hasina.

Prof Anwar Hossain, general secretary of Dhaka University Teachers` Association, inaugurated the black badge- wearing programme on Friday saying that the political organisations should now play proper role to overcome from the present situation as our people have been facing hardship due to soaring prices of essentials.

He said the Dhaka University stood by the distressed people of the country in the past and demonstrate the same spirit again . The present caretaker government assured many good things for the people but failed to deliver any good to them ,he added.

BCL will launch a mass signature programme across the country soon in support of their demand, said Sheikh Sohel Rana Tipu, BCL DU Unit president adding they will continue the black badge-wearing programme until their demand was met.

Earlier, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) warned the government that they would go for simultaneous movement like that of 90s if the government did not pay heed to their demand.

"Our demand is the same. We want the return of democracy at any cost. we can go for simultaneous movement even with BCL," said Shafiul Bari Babu, general secretary of JCD at a press conference on Thursday.

He said if the government did not return power to the representatives of the people by holding election, they will launch tougher movement and topple the government through mass movement.

The government agencies are trying to create rift and division among the student organisations especially JCD and BCL so that the two organisations could not go for simultaneous movement, student sources said.

To make the plan a success, these agencies are giving hefty sum of money to some selected men of the organisations to create chaos on different pleas, the sources claimed.

Progotishil Chhatra Jote, an alliance of left-leaning organisations, staged a demonstration on the campus yesterday demanding bringing down the prices of essentials and launching of rationing system across the country for the survival of the common people.

Later, they held a rally at the main gate of the Arts Building and accused the government of creating the present uneasy situation in the country.

Besides, a section of teachers opposed the visit of the President to the campus on April 7 to attend 44th convocation of the university.

As convocation is a part of the academic calendar , two language veterans would receive honorary degree this time and they would not boycott the programme as a mark of "utmost respect for the two".

They also protested the coming of Chief Adviser to the campus on the occasion of Senate Building inauguration on April 10 remarking it is nothing but a "waste of money" as the construction work of the building has finished two years back.