Vice-chancellors of private universities have urged the government to release students detained during protests for safer roads.
The call came on Wednesday during a view exchange meeting with the education ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Addressing the meeting, Minister Nurul Islam Nahid, however, said it’s not the call of his office.
“If the students have committed offence, then the law-enforcers will take action. But if someone is not found guilty, then he will be released,” he said.
Nahid convened the meeting two days after holding a similar one with principals of schools and colleges in Dhaka in the wake of student protests demanding safer roads.
Representatives of 103 private universities attended the meeting at the International Mother Language Institute auditorium chaired by UGC Chairman Abdul Manna.
University VCs told the meeting that its students did not take to the streets in the early days of the protests since Jul 29 by those from schools and colleges.
According to them, the Aug 6 clashes were an outcome of a plot to reap benefit out of instability.
They said all the universities immediately postponed exams and classes in an effort to contain the situation.
Speaking at the meeting, World University VC Abdul Mannan urged for a general amnesty for the students before adding, “Whatever the reason was, a situation erupted. But the authorities should take in account that no new issue arises.”