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Students of Comilla University on Tuesday observed the third consecutive day of protests demanding justice for Ishayat Shahriar Opratim, the only child of Dr Nahida Begum, an associate professor of the university’s Department of Bangla, and implementation of their four-point demands.
At around 11:30am, students wore black badges and held a silent march. They also observed a one-minute silence in front of the university’s BBA Faculty.
The silent procession began at Shaheed Abdul Qayyum Chattar, passed through the Faculty of Law and returned to the same spot.
The students’ four demands are the arrest of all those involved in Opratim’s murder and completion of the trial within 60 days with the death penalty carried out; withdrawal of the police super of Cumilla and the officers-in-charge of Adarsha Sadar and Sadar Dakshin police stations after accepting responsibility; establishment of a permanent police outpost on the university campus and visible measures to improve law and order; and formation of an immediate response unit to ensure the safety of missing persons.
Farha Khanam, a 2021-22 academic year student of the Bangla department, said students had staged various protests over the past few days, while Tuesday’s programme was mainly intended to express grief and protest silently.
She said there had been no visible progress in implementing their demands despite repeated calls to the authorities since the incident.
Mohammad Rabbani, another Bangla department student, alleged police negligence from the beginning.
He called for determining the accused persons’ actual ages through DNA testing, if necessary, and ensuring a fair trial and appropriate punishment.
Physics department student Araf Bhuiyan said students had remained on the streets since Opratim was abducted and killed, organising protests and road blockades after his body was recovered.
“We want to make it clear through today’s silent march that we have not withdrawn from the movement,” he said, demanding quick implementation of the four-point demands and withdrawal of the concerned police officials.
On Monday, students held a human chain and protest march on the university campus over the same demands. On Sunday, they blocked the Kotbari Biswa Road in Cumilla as part of their movement.