Bangladesh Students Burn College Hall

Student supporters of political parties demanding an end to martial law burned down a pro-government students’ hall on the Dhaka University campus.

Fazlur Rahman Hall, the building destroyed, was a headquarters of the New Bangla Students Community Party. The attacking students said they were protesting the death of their leader, Rauful Basunia, who was fatally shot Wednesday in a clash between rival campus groups.

Earlier last week, police fired blanks and tear gas to disperse students who raided and set fire to the office of the New Bangle People’s Youth Solidarity Organization in the city’s Motijheel commercial district. The rioters had broken away from a procession carrying Basunia’s body.

University officials said Basunia, a senior in the university’s sociology department and a leader of the opposition-aligned Central Students Action Committee, was shot in the head while leading a procession. They said several people were injured during the clash.

No injuries were reported in last week’s incidents.