Ganatantrik Chhatra Jote consisting of seven left-wing organizations has announced a nationwide student rally with six-point demands, including the resignation of the current government.
This announcement was made during a press conference at Modhur Canteen of Dhaka University (DU) on Sunday.
The demands are the resignation of the Awami Leauge government and the ensuring of people's democratic rights, formulation of inclusive, science-based, democratic education policy and the Cancelation of the National Curriculum 2021, reduction of prices of educational materials and necessities, stopping terror occupation of Bangladesh Chhatra League in educational institutions, Cyber Security Act and Essential Services Bill-2023 should be repealed, Disappearances, murders, torture and extrajudicial killings must be stopped.
The student rally will be held in Chittagong on October 13, Jahangirnagar University on October 15, Rangpur on November 4, Bogra on November 5, Rajshahi University on November 6, Barisal on November 11, Sylhet on November 17, Mymensingh on November 18 and Dhaka on November 24.
Samajtantrik Chhatra Front President Salman Siddiqui read out a written statement during the press conference.
The statement said Awami League government, alleging that it initially came to power through vote fraud and is now attempting to regain power with support from both domestic and foreign sources.
“External intervention in Bangladesh's politics and highlighted the government's reliance on bureaucracy, police, RAB, and affiliated groups to stay in power, which has led to the erosion of various institutions, including the education system," the statement added.
Awami League leaders, workers, bureaucrats and businessmen have smuggled Tk11,00,000 crore abroad in the last 15 years. Disappearances, murders, assaults, cases of public life. The black law of cyber security has been enforced in the name of amending the Digital Security Act to take away freedom of media and people's freedom of speech. Essential Services Bill 2023 has been introduced in the Parliament to take away the minimum basic rights of working people, it added.
According to the statement, the government is aggressively promoting privatization, commercialization, and the downsizing of education. The ruling Awami League's student wing, Chhatra League, has established a grip of terror in colleges and universities to sustain its power. They have halted student council elections for an extended period to maintain control. To prevent the horrors of this misrule, there's a call for unity and a united struggle across society.