The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

With the demand of withdrawal of all cases in connection with the August incident last year, teachers and students of Dhaka University wearing black badges observed a 'Black Day' on the Dhaka University campus yesterday as some teachers of the university were arrested on the day. Students who languished in jail for many days for their role in the August incident last year arranged a solidarity meeting at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla to mark the day and also demanding withdrawal of cases filed against them.

Teachers-newly elected Dean of Social Science Faculty Prof Harun-or-Rashid, AAMS Arefin Siddique, DU Teachers` Association general secretary Anwar Hossain, Mohammad Samad and the student organisations-Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) and Left leaning organisations have expressed solidarity with the meeting.

However, the teachers backed by BNP-Jamaat were lukewarm in their observance of the day as no teachers participated in the programme.

Prof Harun-ur-Rashid said, "History will judge the government's actions on the August 23."

"We don't want any further conflict, we only want a congenial academic atmosphere. The government must ensure that such incidents do not recur," he said.

Prof AAMS Arefin Siddiqui of Journalism Department said, "DU students had sacrificed lives in the past for the sake of fundamental rights and democracy."

"As a guardian of students I urge the government to withdraw the cases so that their future is not destroyed," he said.

Later, JCD brought out a procession on the campus and held a rally at the 'Battala' of the university while BCL formed a human chain stretching from central library to the western gate of Arts Building.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Chhatra Front, Chhatra Federation separately observed the day by holding processions and demonstrations on the campus.

Two senior DU professors Md Anwar Hossain and Harun-ur-Rashid were arrested on August 23, 2007, following violent clashes that erupted over the demand for withdrawal of an army camp from the campus.

The DUTA president Sadrul Amin, Prof Nimchandra Bhowmik and a number of students were also arrested in following days.