The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

'Nirjaton Protirodh Chhatra Andolan,' a platform of general students of Dhaka University, called a students` strike in all the educational institutions today (Sunday) demanding withdrawal of emergency, cancellation of local government elections and holding of national elections first and release of detained political leaders, including Begum Khaleda Zia and Tarique Rahman.

The organisation led by Khomeny Ihsan urged the government to accept their demand by August 20 otherwise, it would have to face a tough students` movement. After staging demonstration throughout the campus yesterday, the activists of the organisation took to the street of Shahbagh intersection in procession that created a long jam of vehicles.

Later, they returned to the campus and held a rally in front of 'Battala' near Arts Building.

The students said the present government which took power to hold a free and fair election was yet to hold national elections rather it was trying to create a group of 'Dalals' by holding the local government election first.

They accused the government of taking support of imperialists is hatching conspiracy to obliterate the patriotic political leaders and establish the blessed political leaders for perpetuating their power.

Convenor of the organisation Khomeni Ihsan said frustration was prevailing among the people across the country but they could not utter any word due to emergency.

The people are demanding to withdrawal of the state of emergency but the government is avoiding the issue, he said.

Nirjaton Protirodh Chhatra Andolan has been holding different types of programmes on the university campus since its interception to drum up support for their demands but the government so far did not pay heed.

Among others, Mahbubul Islam Milton, Al Mehedi, Hafizur Rahman, Vashkar Shaha, Mainul Islam, Shaheed Mallik and Niloy Sarkar spoke in the rally.