Rajshahi University鈥檚 Students on Monday staged demonstrations on the campus over the death of their fellow student Saima Hossain, who drowned while doing swimming practice at the swimming pool on the campus on Sunday afternoon.
They also announced a three-day boycott of classes and examinations, demanding a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for those whose negligence allegedly led to her death.
Witnesses said that over 200 students mostly of sociology department brought out a procession and staged a rally on Paris Road, calling for justice and accountability from the authorities.
Addressing the rally, Ibn-e-Fazl, a student of the 2020鈥�21 session, said that three trainers were present at the pool when Saima drowned, but none noticed her disappearance.
鈥榃hen they noticed they brought people from the gymnasium to pull her out. What kind of trainers are they if they cannot save a drowning student? The administration must answer how such people were appointed,鈥� he said.
He added that the university administration had sought three days to submit a preliminary investigation report.
鈥榃e are giving them that time, but until justice for Saima鈥檚 death is ensured, we will not take part in any academic activities,鈥� he said.
Calling for a sit-in in protest at their fellow鈥檚 death, Mahadi Hasan, a student of the 2018鈥�19 session, said, 鈥榃e don鈥檛 want this list to grow longer. We will continue our peaceful sit-in for three days to press our demands.鈥�
Saima, a sociology student of the 2018鈥�19 session from Kushtia, drowned while practising swimming on Sunday afternoon.
She was rescued and taken to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared her dead.
Following the incident, students staged a sit-in in front of the vice-chancellor鈥檚 residence demanding justice.
Amid protests, vice-chancellor Professor Saleh Hasan Naqib announced at about midnight past Sunday that a probe committee was formed.
鈥楾he committee has been asked to submit a preliminary report within three days and a full report within 10 days. Once the report is submitted, necessary actions will be taken,鈥� he said.
