Death of CU student sparks violence

Trackback URL

Download PDF

A student of Chittagong University (CU) died yesterday crushed by the wheels of the university shuttle train after he attempted to jump from a foot over-bridge onto the roof of the moving train at Sholoshahar Railway Station in Chittagong.

The ill-fated was identified as Mahmudul Hasan Mamun, a third year student of the accounting department.

In reaction to his premature death, students of the university barricaded the station and torched its furniture, stationmaster’s office, police rooms and two compartments of the train. They virtually closed down the station for six hours.

The blockade resulted in massive traffic jams across the port city.

Sources and witnesses said Mamun around 9:50am jumped from a foot over-bridge on to the roof of the 5th compartment of the CU-bound train as it was leaving the station. He failed to maintain balance and fell through the gap between two compartments on to the rail line.

The train dragged him around 60 feet before stopping and he died there, said witness Faruk Reza, a student of public administration department.

He said the train stopped after students on board the train screamed at the driver to stop.

A number of students alleged that the train rushed out of the station as it was around 10 minutes late and took off without getting the whistle signal.

Sources said the driver and others staffs of the train left the scene immediately after the incident.

The students went on a rampage in a bid to press home their six-point demand.

Their demands included compensation of Tk 30 lakh to Mamun’s family, removal of Vice-chancellor Prof M Badiul Alam and Proctor Prof Jasim Uddin, more compartments added to the shuttle train and exemplary punishment for the “guilty” railway employees.

The VC and Syndicate members with Rapid Action Battalion escorting them went to the station around 2:00pm.

The VC assured the students of giving Tk 5 lakh to Mamun’s family before next Sunday and taking proper steps to solve the transport crisis immediately.

The students around 3:30pm withdrew the blockade and left.

Meanwhile, Railway East Zone Divisional Manager Ibrahim Khalil told The Daily Star that they formed a three-member probe body headed by Divisional Commercial Officer SM Shahnewaj to investigate the incident.

Ibrahim said, “The committee has been asked to submit its report by tomorrow [Friday] and if anyone is found guilty he or she would be punished.”

Mamun, son of Mohammad Ali of Bahuli village of Patiya upazila in Chittagong, was living with his cousin Omar Ali at the city’s Bakalia area.

Omar said he had been looking after Mamun as Mamun’s father lives in Oman.

Mamun has three younger sisters living with his mother at his village home.

Mamun’s body was sent to his village around 4:00pm, sources said.

Leave a Reply