Dhaka South city unit BNP leader Ishraque Hossain on Monday issued a 48-hour ultimatum to law enforcers to arrest two Banani leaders of Students Against Discrimination (SAD) in connection with the murder of Primeasia University Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) activist Zahidul Islam Parvez.
“We want to give a 48-hour ultimatum to arrest two leaders of Students Against Discrimination (for their involvement in the killing of Parvez),” he said while addressing a rally at Primeasia University.
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Ishraque, who was recently declared the mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) by a court, also warned that if the perpetrators are not arrested within the stipulated time, a tougher course of action would be announced.
The JCD Private University unit organised the rally in front of the university’s Banani campus on Monday, protesting the murder of Parvez and demanding the trial of the perpetrators.
Jahidul Islam Parvez, a student of the textile engineering department at Primeasia University and an active JCD member who had played an outstanding role during the July-August mass uprising, was hacked to death on Saturday following a brawl over a trivial matter.
Ishraque alleged that a meritorious student like Parvez was brutally killed in broad daylight over a petty issue, simply out of animosity towards Chhatra Dal.
He said the names of two leaders--Sobhan Niyaz Tushar, joint convener of the Banani Thana SAD unit, and Hriday Miazi, joint member secretary of the same unit-- have emerged in connection with the incident.
Ishraque also claimed that attempts are being made to pressure the police not to arrest the two SAD leaders. "Anyone obstructing the arrest of these criminals will also be resisted," the BNP leader said.
He urged the government and law enforcement agencies to swiftly arrest those responsible for the killing of the JCD activist and bring them to justice, resisting any effort to shield the offenders. “A criminal is a criminal, regardless of whether they are affiliated with the BNP, Jamaat, NCP, or Students Against Discrimination.”
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Ishraque also called on JCD leaders and activists to return to their academic activities and to report any criminal acts to the authorities instead of taking the law into their own hands. “We want law enforcement agencies to perform their duties and establish the rule of law in Bangladesh.”
Ishraque questioned the legitimacy of the committees formed under the banner of SAD across the country after the students involved in the mass uprising established the political party National Citizen Party (NCP).
He alleged that a vested quarter, under the guise of SAD, has been engaging in extortion, looting and various other criminal activities all over the country for personal financial gains.
Other protesters addressing the rally pointed to a local group known as the ‘Benson Gang’, alleging their involvement in the attack.
They also demanded the immediate arrest of all involved in the brutal murder of the JCD activist.
Earlier, on Sunday, JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib, at a press conference, alleged that some “terrorists” affiliated with SAD were involved in Parvez’s murder.
He also accused SAD of reviving old fascism under a new name on educational campuses, replicating Chhatra League-style intimidation tactics to target Chhatra Dal activists at various institutions.