report in The Daily Star, Sept 1, 2023
Contractors have suspended their work at Chittagong University bringing allegation of extortion by a group of non-students.
In a letter to the CU vice-chancellor, the association of enlisted contractors of the university yesterday said all types of construction and repair work will remain suspended until steps are taken in this regard.
A section of non-student Chhatra League leaders are accused of extortion.
The letter signed by association President Md Sekandar Hossain and General Secretary MA Khaled Chowdhury stated that contractors are extorted by some druggie non-students who also steal all types of construction materials, including rods, bricks, cement, and electrical equipment.
They also beat up contractors, engineers, and construction workers, it added.
Speaking to The Daily Star, association President Md Sekandar Hossain said some former CU students, who have been staying on campus for a long time and are leaders of the pro-ruling party student organisation, are involved in such criminal activities.
He also alleged that contractors have been extorted by a section of leaders and activists of the pro-ruling party student platforms over the years.
This newspaper could not reach Vice-Chancellor Prof Shirin Akhter for comments as she did not answer his phone.
Iqbal Hossain Tipu, general secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League CU unit, said the contractors’ association did not accuse any particular leader or activist of their organisation.
He said action would be taken against any Chhatra League member if there is specific allegation.
The CU engineering department on Monday cut the water, gas and electricity supplies to the campus for several hours and staged a protest in front of the administrative building demanding arrest of a Chhatra League leader for assaulting the CU chief engineer and a security officer.
The staffers alleged that Raju Munsi, joint general secretary of CU Chhatra League and also a former student of the university, led the attack over collecting toll.
On Monday night, CU Security Officer Abdur Razzak filed a case with Hathazari Police Station accusing Raju and two other unnamed persons of carrying out the attack.
Campus sources said Raju earlier halted the construction work of the second fine arts faculty building after demanding toll.
Though he is no longer a student, he lives at the Chhatra League-dominated Shahjalal Hall, the sources added.
This newspaper could not reach Raju for comments as his phone was found switched off.
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/education/news/chittagong-university-contractors-halt-work-protesting-extortion-3408326
