Demand for arrest of BCL leader still on

General students, teachers, and cultural activists of Rajshahi University continued their protest for the fourth day yesterday, demanding immediate arrest and expulsion of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leader who beat up cultural activist Basudev Roy.

About 200 people sang songs at eight different spots on the campus and formed a living statue depicting the "culture of fear" where criminals attack general people again and again and the authorities remain silent. The protesters then converged at Tukitaki Chattar and held a rally.

Police said the attacker, Sajib Ahmed Saddam, assistant secretary of BCL's RU unit, was on the run. He beat up Basudev, former president of RU Kendrio Sangskritik Jote, on June 9 because the window of a restaurant Basudev was opening slightly bumped the head of Sajib.

Basudev is recovering from fractured legs in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

Konica Gope, general secretary of RU Kendrio Sangskritik Jote, which organised the protest, said on Friday, "The university authorities are yet to take any visible step to punish the attacker except just talking of punitive action. But we don't know what the action will be."

Proctor Prof Tarikul Islam said a probe committee would be formed "soon".