Shibir-run messes get empty

Boarders of many privately run dormitories, especially those dominated by Students of Islami Chhatra Shibir in Rangpur city, are leaving the rented houses as police strengthened surveillance against the backdrop of recent terrorist attacks in different areas of the country.

There are over 1,000 student messes around different educational institutions including Carmichael College, Begum Rokeya University and Rangpur Government College in Rangpur city,

Of these messes situated at Collegepara, Kamarpara, Binodpur, Balapara, Ashratpur, Chawkbazar, Parkmor, Modernmor, Lalbagh, Darshanamor and Ghagatpara, more than 200 are controlled by Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, said police and locals.

"Boarders started leaving the messes as police recently asked the residents to submit their details. We are facing financial losses due to the situation," said a mess owner.

"The police are closely monitoring the student messes in Rangpur as a preventive measure against any attempt to deteriorate the law and order. We also asked the mess owners to be careful to watch the boarders' activities," Abdur Razzak, the outgoing superintendent of police in Rangpur, told local reporters last week.

Meanwhile, many fresh students possibly not involved with any politics are also avoiding the messes amid the fear of 'troubles'.

Signboards with the names of many messes also vanished, said Shariful Islam, sub inspector of the Detective Branch in Rangpur.

Rangpur police earlier in a meeting with mess owners urged them to maintain details of their boarders in prescribed forms and also to notify police if anyone leaves the mess.

But most the mess owners are not following the instruction, alleged police.

Seeking anonymity, several mess owners of Ashratpur area in Rangpur city said instead of cooperating, many boarders go elsewhere if they are pressed for detailed information.

"I am trying to follow the instruction of police and at our meetings, told other mess owners to do the same," said Azaharul Islam, a mess owner at Collegepara, an area around Carmichael College.

"I have submitted details of the mess boarders to police as it has become mandatory due to the recent situation in the country," said Rahima Khatun, owner of a mess house at Ashratpur.

Mostafizar Rahman, president of mess owners association at Collegemore, said there are 54 messes in the area.

He claimed that details of the boarders have already been handed over to police.