Disarm Shibir cadres to hold fair polls
Huge quantities of arms stored in RU halls and Jamaat offices, 14-party leaders tell press conference in Rajshahi
Staff Correspondent, Rajshahi
Leaders of local 14-party combine at a press conference here yesterday called upon the caretaker government to prove its neutrality by arresting 'political terrorists' and 'disarming cadres of Islami Chhatra Shibir in the city'. They apprehended 'major terrorist activities' in the city in next three days by armed cadres of Shibir who, they alleged, were using Rajshahi University (RU) halls and different students' messes. They also use RU vehicles, the 14-party leaders told newsmen at Awami League office in the city. They blamed Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) Mayor Mizanur Rahman Minu for sheltering Shibir cadres. They also demanded removal of RU Vice-chancellor Prof Altaf Hossain for allegedly helping Shibir cadres to use university halls and ambulances in criminal activities. Rajsahahi city Awami League (AL) general secretary AHM Khairuzzaman Liton, Workers' Party (WP) Politburo member Fazle Hossain Badsha spoke in the press conference. Other 14-party leaders including city AL vice president Rafik Uddin, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) secretary Abdullah Al Masud Shibli and Sammilito Sangskritik Jote secretary Dr Sayed Shafikul Alam were also present. "We are confused whether there is any caretaker government or a BNP-Jamaat government is in power", Liton said raising allegations that Shibir cadres used firearms during Monday's violence in the city in presence of law enforcing personnel. He said, Monday's Shibir attack on 14-party procession that left some 100 injured was pre-planned and aimed at killing Fazle Hossain Badsha. "Shibir cadres threw two bombs targeting Badsha. Police officers present there saved him", Liton said. Badsha demanded immediate police raids in RU halls, offices of Jamaat-e-Islami and Shibir and different students' messes. Shibir men have amassed huge arms outsiders in those places, he claimed. "We have specific information that arms have been stored at different RU dormitories including Nawab Abdul Latif hall, Amir Ali hall and Martyred Shamsuzzoha hall", he said adding that Islami Bank Hospital was being used as a terrorists' hideout. They also demanded removal of Dr Asaduzzaman, executive director of Barind Multipurpose Development Authority and brother of former post and telecommunication minister Barrister Aminul Haque for corruption and providing shelter to political terrorists.
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