Protests against the July 9 killing of a trader allegedly by the activists of Bangladesh Nationalist Party-affiliated organisations near Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital continued for the third day on Sunday.
Students of different educational institutions and activists of a citizens鈥� platform in the capital staged demonstrations to protest at the murder of Lal Chand, also known as Mohammad Sohag.
The protesters alleged that Sohag鈥檚 murder was an outcome of extortion and criminal activities of the BNP and its affiliated organisations鈥� leaders and activists.
They demanded an end to extortion and justice for Sohag.
Victim Sohag, 39, also an activist of Jatiyatabadi Juba Dal, the youth front of the BNP, was killed on the spot when a group of assailants indiscriminately hit him with stones and hacked him.
The law enforcement agencies have arrested seven people so far in the Lal Chand murder case, filed with Kotwali police station in Dhaka.
鈥楽o far, seven out of the 19 suspects in the Mitford murder case have been arrested,鈥� home adviser Jahangir Alam Chowdhury told reporters at a press briefing after a meeting at the secretariat in Dhaka.
He said that the government was considering transferring the case to a Speedy Trial Tribunal.
He said that the authorities were investigating whether there was any police negligence during or after the killing.
A group of Dhaka College students brought out a procession in the capital鈥檚 Science Laboratory area Sunday afternoon protesting at the murder and extortion.
One of the protesters, Nazmus Salekin, told journalists that the incidents of extortion had increased across the country and the allegations were coming against a specific party as that party failed to control its leaders and activists鈥� crimes.
Dhaka College students hold a rally, protesting at the countrywide extortion and violence, in front of the college in the capital on Sunday. 鈥� 抖阴精品 photo
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鈥楾he Mitford murder is a result of such a situation,鈥� said Salekin.
A group of students of Ideal College in the capital鈥檚 Dhanmondi area also staged a demonstration in the Science Laboratory area in the afternoon and went to Sir Salimullah Medical College Mitford Hospital with a procession.
They along with students of other educational institutions including Mohammadpur Kendriya College, Dhaka Udyan Government College and New Model Degree College held a rally in front of the hospital gate protesting at the murder and uncontrolled extortion.
The protesting students also tore some posters and banners of the BNP and the leaders of the BNP-affiliated organisations and set fire to them.
鈥榃e demand capital punishment for the murderers and extortionists,鈥� said a protester. 听
Meanwhile, Sir Salimullah Medical College students boycotted all academic activities on Sunday and the hospital鈥檚 intern doctors observed a day-long work abstention demanding that the authorities ensure security in the hospital area after the July 9 murder in front of the hospital gate.听
Dhaka city committee of SHUJAN 鈥� Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik, a citizens鈥� platform, formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club in Dhaka protesting at the killings, sexual harassment against women, extortion, and mob violence across the country.
On July 11, three BNP-affiliated organisations, Juba Dal, Chhatra Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal, expelled five members of their organisations for their alleged involvement in the Lal Chand murder.
The leaders of the BNP-affiliated organisations, however, alleged administrative failure that had led to a breakdown in the law and order situation, and that an opportunistic group was exploiting the situation for political gain.
On Friday and Saturday, students of different educational institutions, leaders and activists of several political parties and organisations in Dhaka and elsewhere in the country protested at the murder and extortion after a video clipping of the murder went viral on social media.
