Different student organisations yesterday staged demonstrations on the Dhaka University (DU) campus protesting the prime minister's visit to Amar Ekushey Book Fair while the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of the BNP, welcomed her on the Bangla Academy premises to open the month-long fair.

Thousands of JCD leaders and activists began to gather at Madhu's canteen on the campus since morning. Later they brought out a procession and held a rally.

Addressing the rally, JCD President Azizul Bari Helal urged Awami League (AL) President Sheikh Hasina to keep educational institutions out of strike and hartal for the greater interests of the students.

He also blamed Hasina for the killings of AL leaders and activists.

Presided over by JCD DU unit council preparation committee Convenor Sultan Salauddin Tuku, the rally was also addressed by General Secretary Shafiul Bari Babu and Selimuzzaman Selim.

on the other hand, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Progatishil Chhatra Jote (PCJ), and the leftleaning BCL protested the inauguration of Ekushey Book Fair by the prime minister.

Wearing black scarves, the BCL brought out a procession on the campus but they were intercepted by police at the main gate of the Arts building as they tried to march towards the Teachers Students Centre.

The BCL held a brief rally there.

Addressing the rally, BCL General Secretary Nazrul Islam Babu said the spirit of the historic language movement would be dishonoured with the inauguration of Ekushey Book Fair by Khaleda Zia whose cabinet includes those who opposed the country's independence in 1971.

BCL President Liaqat Sikder said the prime minister was not acceptable to the student community for the inauguration of the book fair as her cabinet is consisted of communal forces.

BCL leaders Rafiqul Islam Kotowal, Ashraful Azim Rubon, Baloram Podder, Saifuzzaman Shekhor, Khan Moinul Islam Mostak, Delwar Hossain and Hemayet Uddin Khan Himu also addressed the rally.

The PCJ and left-leaning BCL also brought out separate processions and held rallies on the campus to protest the inauguration of book fair by the prime minister.

Additional police and members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) were deployed around the campus to avert any untoward incidents.