Students stage 3-hr road blockade in Khulna

KHULNA, Sept 21: Students of North Western University on Monday staged a three-hour road blockade in the city demanding immediate arrest and punishment of those allegedly involved in the killing of their fellow student Md Azmul Hossain.

The students later suspended the blockade after senior police and administration officials assured them of taking prompt action against the accused.

They gave the authorities a 24-hour ultimatum to arrest the alleged killers and announce their arrests through a press briefing.

The blockade, which began at around 10:30am, brought traffic movement to a halt from the university area towards Sonadanga Bus Terminal. Protesters set fire to tyres on the road and held rallies and protest meetings, causing long tailbacks in the area.

Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju visited the spot and assured the students that those responsible would be brought under the law.

Later, senior police and administration officials held talks with the protesters. Additional Police Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Muhammad Shahnewaz Khaled and other senior officials were present.
Following assurances from the authorities, the students withdrew from the road at around 1:30pm.

Additional Police Commissioner Shahnewaz Khaled said several police teams were working to arrest the accused.

"The accused will be arrested as soon as possible. We will try to submit the charge-sheet in the murder case within one month," he said.

Azmul, 22, a first-year student of the English Department of North Western University, was allegedly beaten and subsequently thrown from the roof of a four-storey building near Islamnagar Road adjacent to Khulna University on Friday night.

He was later taken to Khulna Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

His father, Qutub Uddin, filed a murder case with Harintana Police Station on Saturday night, naming four Khulna University students and 20-25 unidentified people as accused. The case was filed under Sections 302 and 34 of the Penal Code.

Talking to reporters, investigation officer SI Nazmul Hossain said the preliminary investigation found evidence that Azmul had fallen from the fourth-floor rooftop.

He said both of Azmul's legs were fractured above the knees.

Regarding the allegation that Azmul was beaten over eating stolen rice, the investigation officer said there could be other reasons behind the incident.

"It is not possible to disclose everything at this stage in the interest of the investigation," he said, adding that police were trying to arrest Mehdi, the manager of the mess where the incident took place.

Harintana Police Station Second Officer SI Md Russel Hossain said police had received information about the direct involvement of four Khulna University students in the incident.
"Several police teams are working to arrest the accused," he said.

Azmul's father alleged that his son had been called to Khulna on the pretext of attending a picnic. 

He said Mehdi had demanded Tk 58,000 from Azmul for the picnic expenses, and Azmul sent Tk 23,000 to him through bKash while staying at his home in Chuadanga.

Qutub Uddin also alleged that he received a call from Azmul's phone around 12:30am on Friday night.

"My son told me, 'Abbu, they are beating me after making a false allegation against me.' Then another person took the phone and demanded Tk 1 lakh from us. We could not contact my son afterwards," he said.
Meanwhile, students demanded a proper investigation and punishment of all those involved in the killing.

They said they would announce tougher programmes if the accused were not arrested within the stipulated 24 hours.