Buet students postponed protest due to admission test

Students of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology have postponed their protest program for two days starting from tomorrow in consideration of the university’s admission test scheduled for October 14 (Monday).

The students will provide support to all aspiring students and their guardians who will come to the campus for the admission test, a spokesperson said on behalf of the protesting students.

As the university authorities have already taken noticeable steps in realizing some of the students’ 10-point demand, which included a ban on organizational politics on campus, the agitating students have decided to have faith in them, the spokesperson added.

Following the announcement at the base of the Buet Shaheed Minar, most of the students were seen going back to their respective halls.

Following a six-day protest over the murder of Buet student Abrar Fahad, the students decided to postpone their program after a meeting with Vice-Chancellor Saiful Islam yesterday.

DEATH OF ABRAR FAHAD

Abrar, a second-year student of Buet’s electrical and electronic engineering department, was beaten to death by a group of Chhatra League leaders at the university’s Sher-e-Bangla Hall between. 

The murder triggered a firestorm of protests on university campuses across the country. Many took to social media to demand justice for Abrar.

Law enforcers suspect, Abrar was attacked because of one of his recent Facebook posts, which seemed critical of some recent deals with India.

Later, the agitating students placed a 10-point demand to the authorities and threatened to go for a tougher movement if the demands are not met immediately.

WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME OF YESTERDAY’S MEETING?

At the meeting with Buet student yesterday, the VC said the university banned all political activities on the campus and suspended 19 students, mostly leaders of the university’s BCL unit, accused in Abrar Fahad killing case.

On the demand for the maximum punishment for Abrar’s killers, he said he already discussed the matter with government high-ups and that they promised all sorts of assistance in this regard.

About the demand for expelling all the murder accused from the university, the VC said they expelled students on many occasions in the past, but the students returned to classes with stay orders from the court.

“Based on that experience, we have formed a committee to investigate Abrar murder. We’ve suspended the 19 accused and will take further action based on the probe report. The committee will submit its report within 10 days,” he said.

Reading out the demand for providing compensation to Abrar’s family and helping it run the legal battle, he said the university authorities would extend support to the family.

He assured that ragging would stop at Buet.

The VC then said the university authorities would soon install CCTV cameras on both sides of the wings of the dormitories.

Speaking on the other demands, Prof Saiful said they would write to the government so that the trial of the Abrar murder case is held at a speedy trial tribunal.