Officials Close University in Bangladesh Following Violent Student Protests By MARTHA ANN OVERLAND
New Delhi
Officials closed the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology indefinitely on Sunday, after student protests at the country's premier engineering institute turned violent. The university, in Dhaka, the capital city, is the second in two months to be shut because of student clashes with police.
"We have decided to close the university with immediate effect in the face of continuing student unrest and their attempt to create anarchy on the campus," Alee Murtuza, vice chancellor of the university, told reporters on Sunday night.
The engineering campus has been tense since June when a female student, Sabiqunnahar Sony, was killed by a stray bullet during a gunfight between two rival pro-government student organizations. Students have demanded the arrest and prosecution of the killers. They also want the administration to drop expulsion orders against several student leaders responsible for organizing the demonstrations.
The decision to close the university came after a day of running battles between students and police officers. At one point, students entered the vice chancellor's office and issued a list of demands. Hundreds of others who had gathered outside threatened to storm the office. Mr. Murtaza claimed that students had blocked the doors to the building, preventing 50 professors and staff members from leaving. Police moved in with tear gas and batons to break up the demonstration. At least two dozen students were injured.
At the news conference on Sunday, the vice chancellor defended the decision to call in the police, saying that the police officers were acting on his instructions to restore order. But when pressed, he said he would look at any evidence that suggested that excessive force had been used. He told reporters that he had no intention of giving in to calls for his resignation.
"They can demand whatever they want," he said. "But I have no fault that I have to resign."
While the campus remains closed, Mr. Murtaza still faces a hunger strike by students who vowed to fast until death. As many as 30 people have joined the strike, which began last month. Doctors say that many are now suffering from acute dehydration. On September 6, four of the students were admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital in critical condition.
The University of Dhaka was closed temporarily in July after 70 students were injured in clashes between the police and protesters there.