Sajib killing: Ruet ousts 6 BCL men Expel four others for different terms

RAJSHAHI NEWS

The authorities of Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology (Ruet) has expelled six students for life and four others for different terms after a probe committee found their involvement in Ruet student Aziz Khan Sajib murder.

All the 10 students against whom the action have been taken are leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League of the university unit.

The Ruet disciplinary committee made the decision Tuesday night after receiving a report from the committee formed by the university to investigate Sajib’d murder.Ruet Vice Chancellor Prof Sirajul Karim Chowdhury chaired the meeting.

Sajib, 25, a student of Ruet civil engineering department, also the organising secretary of the university's Zia Hall unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), suffered injuries to his head and chest in an attack by rival faction BCL men on March 12.

He later succumbed to his injures at Habib Clinic in Savar on March 16.

The six expelled students are Mohaiminul Haque Polash, Sultan Rajibul Islam, Tanvir Ahmed and Zahangir Alam, fourth year students of electronic engineer department; Sufian Alam, a third year student of the same department; and Md Arafat Al Jami Rezwan, a third year student of mechanical engineering department.

Among the four others, Mirza Abu Golam Rasel and Jayan Ahmed, third year students of civil engineering department, and Kazi Mastiyak Ahmed, a fourth year student of the same department, were suspended for three years.

Another third year student of civil engineering department, Aminul Islam, was expelled for two years.

Earlier on March 29, the Ruet authorities issued show-cause notices to 10 students alleged of being responsible for the death of Sajib following a recommendation from the probe committee.

Ruet student adviser Dr Shamimur Rahman said they took the decision after scrutinising the responses of the concerned students over the show-cause notices served on them by the authorities.

About the punishment, Rony said, “We cannot accept the disciplinary committee’s decisions as a number of culprits responsible for Sajib's death have been saved."

Demanding immediate arrest of Sajib’s killers, Rony called upon the university authorities to take steps against the killers against whom the authorities are yet to take any action.

The Ruet VC was not available for his comment.

Jatka catching goes on as culprits slip thru' dragnet Huge fry seized in Dhaleswari drives but none held or purnished

BANGLADESH NEWS

Law enforcers seized 1,005 maunds of jatka ((young hilsa bellow nine inches long) from passenger launches in the Dhaleswari River in the district during February to April but none has been arrested or punished for the callous act that poses threat to hilsa stock.

To help growth of the popular fish, the government imposes ban on catching of jatka from February 1 to May 31 every year.

But frequent drives and seizure of huge jatka in Munshiganj district have apparently failed to stop illegal catching of jatka during the ban period.

From February to April, the coastguard conducted 66 drives and seized huge jatka in 21 of the drives, said Ferdous Alam, station commander of Coastguard Bangladesh in Narayanganj.

"The jatka is being seized mostly from passenger launches but the jatka owners cannot be identified after seizure. If we take initiative to seize the launch or arrest launch staff, passengers get agitated," he said.

When asked how they identified the launches before drives, Ferdous said jatka is often carried in the Dhaka-bound launches coming from Bhola, Borhanuddin and Barguna and these launches cross Munshiganj in early hours.

The law enforcers also seized 14 lakh 98 thousand metres of current nets worth Tk 8 crore and 54 lakh from February 1 to April 6.

Such current nets are often set in the rivers to catch small fishes including jatka.

However, authorities could not take any action against around a hundred current net producing factories in Munshiganj due to 'legal complications'.

According to Fish Resources Preservation Act catching, carrying and selling of jatka is banned from February 1 to May 31.

The punishment of such crime is jail term from one month to six months or Tk 1000 fine, or both. If anyone gets involved in the illegal act for the second time the punishment will be doubled.

When asked why none was punished for such crimes till now, the district fisheries officer of Munshiganj said, "We have stopped jatka catching in the district. Most of the seized jatka comes from other areas in launches. Action against authorities of jatka carrying launches is needed to check the illegal act."

"Only a mobile court can give verdict on the spot, but no mobile court was present during the drives. The upazila nirbahi officers have fund for mobile court drives," he added.

Munshiganj Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Shahanara Yesmin Mili said Munshiganj rivers are free from jatka catching and so, their mobile courts conduct drives in different markets.

"The jatka is often carried in large passenger launches that come from other districts. If a mobile court conducts drives in the launches and seize any launch on charge of carrying jatka, we will have to take the responsibility to send the passengers to their destinations," she said.

She suggested conducting mobile court drives in Bhola and Barguna areas from where jatka is taken onto the launches.

Munshiganj Deputy Commissioner Azizul Alam said they had urged the launch owners not to carry illegal jatka. As the instruction is ignored, the authorities concerned are being ordered to take necessary steps.

During three of the most successful drives on March 23, April 2 and April 5, coastguard seized 150 maunds, 210 maunds and 100 maunds of jatka respectively from passenger launches in the Dhaleshwari River and dumped the item on the riverbank.

Nationwide celebration of Rabindra birth anniversary Discussion on Tagore at Bangla Academy

BANGLADESH NEWS

On the occasion of the closing of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Rabindranath Tagore and the inaugural of his 151st birth anniversary celebration, Bangla Academy organised a two-day discussion and cultural programme. The event was inaugurated on May 7.

Shamsuzzaman Khan, director general of Bangla Academy, delivered the welcome speech. MM Akash, Professor of Economics, Dhaka University, read out an essay on “Rabindra Biswabikkha O Bortoman Biswa”. Author and music enthusiast Abdus Shakoor and Professor Farzana Siddiqua were present as discussants. Tagore exponent and one of the founders of Chhayanaut, Dr. Sanjida Khatun, presided over the programme.

Eminent Tagore exponent and former Vice Chancellor (VC) of Rabindra Bharati University, Dr. Pabitra Sarkar; Justice Tofazzal Hossain; historian Syed Anwar Hossain; Professor Zaheda Ahmed; Professor AN Rasheda and poet Rabindra Gope attended the programme.

Shamsuzzaman Khan said, “It is much appreciable that Bangladesh and India have jointly organised Tagore's birth anniversary. Tagore's creations emphasise on elimination of poverty and conflicts from our society.

“Tagore's poetry has the strength to overcome sorrow. His works will remain an inspiration for the present and future generations. He showed us how to transform sorrow into strength.”

MM Akash said, “Tagore believed in a world of amity and dreamt of a society where there was no place for any malice and cruelty. Humanity is the main aspect of all of his creations.”

Abdus Shakoor said, “His main focus was to build a bridge between different communities and nations. He never believed in any kind boundaries. He believed in internationalism.”

Dr. Sanjida Khatun said, “Tagore was always rooted to his homeland and its people. He is also a poet of the world. His literary works not only highlight nationalism, but also delve deep into internationalism.”

After the discussion, elocutionist Bhaswar Banerjee recited a poem. Noted Tagore singers Iffat Ara Dewan, Bulbul Islam, Shama Rahman and Nargis Rahman rendered songs.