Police have detained nine Islamist activists when they were distributing leaflets protesting the government's initiative to set up the 'Rabindra University' in Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj.

They are all activists of Islamist group Al-Bayyinat, police told our Pabna correspondent quoting the detainees.

The nine activists were detained while distributing leaflets in the upazila headquarters yesterday afternoon protesting the government move to name the university after nobel laurate Rabindranath Tagore, said Shihab Uddin Khalifa, officer-in-charge of Shahzadpur Police Station.

A case was filed against them bringing allegation that they were trying to wage protest against the government's decision to set up a university and name it after the Bangali poet, the OC added.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to lay foundation stone of the university on Tagore's birthday on May 8.

On October 5, 2010, the prime minister declared to build a Rabindra University and a Rabindra Academy for higher studies and research on poet Rabindranath Tagore.

The premier made the disclosures while presiding over the first meeting of the National Committee for celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Tagore on 25 Baishakh 1418 (Bangla year) at the PM's Office.