2 university students killed in bus accidents in Dhaka, Kushtia
Two university students were killed in bus accidents in Dhaka and Kushtia on Sunday and the authority closed Islamic University in Kushtia for an indefinite period amidst protests from the students against the death of a fellow. At the Islamic University in Kushtia, biotechnology and genetic engineering third year student Towhidur Rahman Titu, 22, was killed as a hired student bus ran over his head knocking him down while he was getting on another hired student bus for Jhenaidah and about 12:30pm. The bus driver went away. In the other accident, International Islamic University, Chittagong BBA student Mozammel Kajal was killed being sandwiched between two Karnaphuly and Dibanishi paribahan buses at Malibagh in Dhaka. He was rushed to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Mozammel was doing internship at a private organisation, said his brother-in-law Mohammad Alamgir. Islamic University in Kushtia pro-vice-chancellor Shahinoor Rahman said that an emergency syndicate meeting decided to close the university at about 3:00pm to thwart any further unexpected incident. The male students were asked to leave the residential halls by 6:00pm on Sunday and female students by 10:00 today. Violent protests erupted on the campus and its surrounding areas following the death of Towhidur. The agitated students vandalised at least 10 buses and set fire to 20 more in the main gate area and the garage area of the university, witnesses said. No sooner the news of death spread on the campus, students in groups brought out processions and blocked the Kushtia-Khulna highway. Angry students, who were demanding arrest and punishment of people responsible for the death, set fire to at least 15 buses in the main gate area and vandalised several transports. Another group of students set fire to five buses parked in garage area inside the campus, the witnesses said The students also blocked Kushtia-Khulna highway for over two hours and ransacked the offices of the vice-chancellor and the proctor. They hurled brick chips at the residence of vice-chancellor Abdul Hakim Sarker, the witnesses said. At this point, the police charged batons, fired at least 50 rubber bullets and 20 teargas shells, leaving at least 15 injured. A critically injured Sadrul Amin Akash, second year student of biotechnology and genetic engineering, was rushed to Jhenaidah general hospital. At about 2:30pm, the university authorities led by vice-chancellor and pro-vice-chancellor sat in a meeting with the agitated students and assured them of taking proper actions after investigation. Proctor Lokman Hakim told New Age that they were shocked at the unexpected death of Towhidur. ‘We are trying to bring the situation under control,’ he said. Towhidur’s body was sent to his village home at Maheshpur in Jhenaidah, said university transport administrator Mamunur Rahman. Kushtia Bus-Minibus Owners Association general secretary Hasan Abul Fazal said that transport workers went on an indefinite strike in Khulna division demanding compensation for the vehicles damaged during the protests.
Source: New Age
