The trial of the four teachers and 15 students of Dhaka University began yesterday in the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Court in Dhaka.

ACMM Golam Robbani has recorded deposition of complainant Sergeant Shawkat Ahmed of Shahbagh thana in the trial, which was the first session of the Court after the charge framing in the case.

The case was filed with the Shahbagh thana against four teachers and 15 students for making provocative statements and encouraging illegal demonstration, which began on August 20, under sections 3 (4) and 6 (10) of the Emergency Power Rules (EPR).

The four detained teachers-Dhaka University Teachers Association (DUTA) President Prof Sadrul Amin, General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science Prof Harun Or Rashid and Chairman of Applied Physics and Electronic Department Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik and detained student Maniruzzaman Sardar were produced before the Court yesterday.

Other 14 accused students were shown as fugitive in the case. Complainant Sergeant Shawkat Ahmed in his deposition to the Court refrained from naming the four teachers or anybody else as accused, court sources said.

ACMM Golam Robbani fixed December 24 for further hearing of the case.

The case against the detained teachers and students of Dhaka University was filed following students and teachers unrest centring an untoward incident between Army jawans and a group of students at the university playground on August 19. The students launched an agitation immediately.

Situation went out of control on the following day, when thousands of students backed by the DUTA started demonstration, resulting clashes between the agitating students and police. The Government on August 20 withdrew Army camp from the university and the Army closed the responsible sepoy. But the agitation sharply spread in all the public universities and cities of the country.

The Government had to clampdown curfew in the capital and the divisional towns, and closed down all universities and colleges in these cities. Police lodged case against the teachers and students on August 22 with Shahbagh thana.

The Joint Forces arrested three DU teachers-DUTA General Secretary Prof Anwar Hossain, Dean of the Faculty of Social Science Prof Harun Or Rashid and Chairman of Applied Physics and Electronic Department Prof Neem Chandra Bhowmik at one stage, while DUTA President Prof Sadrul Amin surrendered to the Court latter.

Family members of the detained teachers and DUTA through Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr SMA Fayez started parleys with the Government to secure their release.

The Vice-Chancellor had a number of meetings with President Prof Dr Iajuddin Ahmed, Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed and Army Chief General Moeen U Ahmed and pleaded for their release.

The Government started taking lenient view and granting presidential clemency to four convicted teachers of Rajshahi University sent a signal that the administration may release the detained Dhaka University teachers also.

Meanwhile, Our Court Correspondent reports: the charge sheet against former Chief Conservator of Forest Osman Gani was submitted to the Court yesterday.

Osman Gani was accused of amassing huge movable and immovable property through illegal means, while his wife was made co-accused of the case as she allegedly cooperated with her husband in the mischief.

Assistant Director of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) SM Aktar Hamid Bhuiyan yesterday submitted the charge sheet, making 52 persons witnesses in the case.

On May 30, Joint Forces arrested Osman Gani with huge money and gold ornaments from his Uttara residence in the city. Later ACC Deputy Director Golam Shahriar Chowdhury filed the case against the accused with Uttara thana in Dhaka city.

New Nation
Bangladesh, Tuesday, December 18, 2007