Bomb attack on DU debate contest condemned

Debaters stage a demonstration at the Central Shaheed Minar in the city yesterday to protest the Monday's bomb attack on a friendly debate competition on the Dhaka University campus. PHOTO: STAR

The society held a protest rally at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla sculpture and brought out a silent procession participated by about five hundred debaters.

Present and former office-bearers of the society also called for exemplary punishment to the perpetrators terming it a barbaric attack on the freedom of knowledge and democracy.

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Education Minister Dr Osman Farruk condemned the attack while visiting the injured at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

He asked the hospital authorities for their proper treatment.

Bangladesh Communist Party President Monjurul Ahsan Khan and Member-secretary of Jatiya Oikya Mancha Abdur Rouf, in separate statements, condemned the attack.

The attack is a consequence of government's failure to make any headway in grisly grenade and bomb attacks in recent times that had infused a deep sense of insecurity among the common people, said Ain O Salish Kendra in a press statement.

Sammilita Ainjibi Samannoy Parishad, at a protest meeting with Barrister Amir-ul-Islam in the chair, condemned the attack and demanded proper treatment of the injured and exemplary punishment to the perpetrators.

Secretary General of Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights Sigma Huda said it is disquieting that the country's highest seat of learning has become the target of bomb attack.

President of Sammilita Samajik Andolon Ajoy Roy, Executive Director of Human Rights Review Society Advocate Mohammed Sayeedul Hoque and Director of Bangladesh Manobadhikar Samonnoy Parishad Advocate Mohammad Shamsuddin, in separate statements, condemned the attack and demanded immediate punishment to the culprits.

Bangladesh Debate Federation, Mymensingh Debate Federation, Bangladesh Chhatra Federation, Biplobi Chhatra Moitri, Progotishil Chhatra Jote, Jatiya Chhatra Dhara, Bangladesh Chhatra Kendra and Bishwa Bhalobasa Dibas Udjapon Parishad also issued separate statements decrying the attack.