Academics, intellectuals, and cultural activists yesterday joined the cause of medical college hopefuls and called for an investigation into the allegations of the admission test question leak, saying people would accept whatever resulted.

"A transparent and acceptable probe committee has to be formed with experts and medical college teachers to verify the leak. People will accept the committee’s report," Prof Anu Muhammad, an economist, told a solidarity rally at the capital's Shahbagh.

The demonstrators will present the evidence of the question leak at the Jatiya Press Club today.

On behalf of the candidates, Khaled Saifullah said, "Former health minister AFM Ruhal Haque advised us to submit the evidence of the leak to the IT cell of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). But the authority did not give us any opportunity to submit those; rather police assaulted us brutally when we marched towards DGHS on Wednesday."

He said they would rally at the Central Shaheed Minarat 10:00am today.

Tanjimuddin Khan, who teaches international relations at Dhaka University, said the country had become a "mafia state" and was destroying the education system by "allowing such leaks”. "The nation is gradually becoming a 'nation without talent' since the state does not look for meritorious students. The question leak is a part of a long-term conspiracy."

Singer Mahmuduzzaman Babu said, "The arrest of 10 people in Dhaka and Rangpur and the death of an UGC official proved that leaks occurred."

He added, "The police men who brutally beat up the innocent students several times must be brought to book."

Omar Siraj, an assistant director of the University Grants Commission (UGC), was arrested on September 18, the day the test was held, for his alleged involvement in the leak.

But he died in custody a few days later.

Journalist Abu Sayed requested that the medical college admission test be held under universities, not under the health ministry.

“The health minister continuously rebutted the question leak allegation despite sufficient evidence. Our children are demonstrating on the street for 21 days, but the government does not pay any heed."

Ashraf Kamal, a guardian, said, "I urged the health minis-terto throw us into the new Dhaka Central Jail in Keraniganj if he does not accept our demand."

Present among the others were Dhaka University's Prof Abul Kashem Fazlul Haque, Prof Fahmidul Haque, Dr Moshtaq Ahmed, Prof Shantonu Majumder, sculptor Rasha, and Enamul Haque.

Scores of armed police, armed personnel carriers and barbwire barricades were on the protest scene to prevent any untoward incident.