The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

Students and the teachers of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University (DU) yesterday staged a demonstration on the campus protesting the assault on a freedom fighter Sheikh Muhammad Ali on Friday at a discussion meeting of Jatiya Muktijodha Parishad, a Jamaat-backed organisation.

Later, they held a rally at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla and demanded punishment to those responsible for this assault.

They also demanded immediate trial of war criminals and urged the people of the country, especially, young generation to forge a tough movement in order to punish the war criminals.

Just before the rally, freedom fighters, teachers, journalists and hundred of DU students brought out a silent procession that marched on the campus with banners, placards and posters demanding trial of war criminals, forming a special tribunal and punishment to the Jamaat-Shibir cadres, who attacked the freedom fighter.

Later, students staged 'Symbolic Hanging' of Jamaat leaders, Golam Azam, Ali Ahsan Mujahid, Kader Mollah and Matiur Rahman Nizami. Students also burnt effigies of these leaders after the rally.

Prof Anwar Hossain Prof AAMA Arefin Siddique, Prof Harun-or-Rashid, Prof Muhammad Samad, Prof Giti Ara Nasreen, Prof Sadeka Halim, Associate Prof Robayet Ferdous, Assistant Prof Nadir Junaid, Dr Zinat Huda Wahid, Dr Wahiduzzaman Chan, Assist Prof TanjimUddin Khan, Prof Khandakar Mokadem Hossain, Maj (Retd) Shafiullah, Maj (Retd) Joynal Abedin, Bhirpratik, and student leaders Sohel Rana Tipu and Khan Asaduzzaman Masum, among others, participated at the rally.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra Union (BCU), a left leaning student organisation also staged demonstration on the campus, demanding trail of war criminals and exemplary punishment to those responsible for assaulting freedom fighter Ali.

BCU leaders and activists brought out a procession and held a rally on the campus to press home their demands.

Jatiya Muktijodha Parishad, in a statement signed by freedom fighter Habibur Rahman, claimed that some newspapers and electronic media were publishing false news in a planned way.

It stated that no such incident occurred at the programme on July 11 but a vested quarter staged a drama outside the programme by Mohammad Ali, who was not even a delegate.