The New Nation - Internet Edition

RU Correspondent

The cultural activists of the Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday filed three general dairies with the Motiher police following death threat from Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) activists for performing a drama on the campus on November 3..

RU Udichi Shilpigoshti General Secretary Abu Sayem, also the RU unit president of Bangladesh Chhatra Union (BCU), filed a general dairy (GD) with the Motiher police stating that Shibir activists under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj' threatened to burn to death Udichi activists of RU .

Udichi activist Hosne Ara Farzana, filed another general dairy accusing a group of Shibir activists of physically assaulting her as she protested their 'propaganda' in front of her department on Thursday.

In her dairy she sought security to her life.

Some cultural activists of RU, Udichi Shilpigoshti and Dhumketu Natya Sangsad jointly met university acting vice chancellor Prof Mamnunul Keramat and Proctor Enamul Haque separately yesterday and demanded punishment of the Shibir activists who are involved in the false propaganda against cultural activists.

They also submitted memoranda to RU VC and Proctor incorporating their five-point demand.

Their demands include immediate arrest and cancellation of the studentship of the Shibir activists who staged demonstration under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj', immediate ban on religion based politics on the RU campus and security of lives of the cultural activists.

They threatened to launch a tough movement against the university authorities if the responsible Shibir activists were not punished.

Earlier on Friday, Shibir activists held a demonstration on the RU campus and threatened to kill cultural activists of RU for staging a controversial drama which was alleged to have vilified the prophet Mohammad (SM).

Meanwhile, Islami Chhatra Shibir (ICS) of RU led by ICS RU unit president Delwar Hossain Saidee met RU VC at his office and gave 48 hours ultimatum demanding immediate cancellation of studentship of the Udichi and Dhumketu Natya Sangsad activists for staging a drama on the campus.

RU shibir placed three -point demand and gave a memorandum to RU vice chancellor Prof. Mamnunul Keramot. The demands include ban all activities of the Udichi and Dhumketu on the campus and a exemplary punishment to the author of the controversial drama, performers and others associated with it.

They threatened to halt university activities after deadline if RU authorities fail to take action against them.

RU authorities will bear all responsibility if any untoward incident occurs on the campus after deadline, said Delwar Hossain Saidee told reporters.

Several hundred Shibir activists under the banner of 'Sacheton Chhatra Samaj' staged a big showdown, held a protest rally and paraded different streets on the campus in front of police.

Speakers at the rally said that Dhumketu Nattaya Sangsad (DNS) of Rajshahi University (RU) staged the drama named " Mandar" in which prophet Mohammad (SM) was vilified.

The drama ,which was staged on November 3 at Siraji Bhaban Chatter on the campus under the banner of Dhumketu Nattya Sangsad, had a character named "Rasul".

An activist of Udichi claimed that the drama was not intended to the criticise the holy prophet.