A newly formed student platform named 'Students Against Terrorism' has enforced a full-day strike at Dhaka University on Thursday (May 15), rejecting the administration’s decision to observe a half-day class and exam boycott in protest of the murder of student Shahriar Alam Samya.
Protesters locked down several academic and administrative buildings across the campus by midday, demanding justice and accountability from the university authorities.
At around 12:30 pm, members of the platform were seen placing locks on key university facilities, including the Faculty of Social Sciences, Arts Building (Kala Bhaban), and the Faculty of Business Studies.
They later announced intentions to shut down science faculties and the administrative building as well.
The protest was led by members of the Dhaka University unit of Chhatra Dal, along with several left-leaning student groups, who have united under the new platform.
Protesters are demanding the resignation of Vice-Chancellor Prof. Niaz Ahmed Khan and Proctor Dr. Saifuddin Ahmed, accusing them of "failing to ensure student safety on campus."
“We’ve locked academic buildings as part of the full-day strike. We’re calling on students to boycott all classes, exams, and administrative activities,” said Shakib Biswas, an organizer and office secretary of Bijoy Ekattor Hall Chhatra Dal unit, during the demonstration.
The student groups rejected the administration’s earlier decision to observe a half-day mourning on Friday, calling it inadequate in response to Samya's death.
They instead urged for a complete shutdown of academic and administrative operations.
The platform has also announced a rally at 5:00 pm at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla, reiterating their demand for the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor and the Proctor, and vowing to continue protests until their demands are met.
A group of miscreants stabbed Samya, a Dhaka University student and a leader of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, in the Suhrawardy Udyan area in the early hours of Wednesday (May 14). Later, he was rushed to Dhaka Medical College and Hospital where the on-duty physicians declared him dead.
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