Forty-six eminent citizens of the country on Wednesday expressed concern over vandalism and looting at the offices of the Bangladesh Students Union and the Socialist Students Front at Bangladesh Agricultural University.
In a joint statement, teachers, journalists, lawyers, writers, filmmakers and other prominent citizens, said attacking and vandalizing the office of any organization or institution, or physically assaulting anyone, is a manifestation of intolerance and an undemocratic attitude.
“Mob justice and cancel culture are not characteristics of a democratic culture. Hundreds of students and people sacrificed their lives in this movement to establish the right to freedom of expression. In this ‘new Bangladesh,’ interfering with freedom of expression or suppressing dissenting opinions goes against the very spirit of this movement.”
Cautioning students about conspiracies of the defeated force, they said representatives of defeated fascism are masquerading as general students to implement their own agendas.
“Be wary of them and maintain a democratic environment and mutual harmony in your educational institutions and communities.”
The statement was signed by Anu Muhammad, former professor at Jahangirnagar University; Prof Gitiara Nasreen, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University; and Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, filmmaker, among others.
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of miscreants vandalized and attacked the offices of Bangladesh Students Union and the Socialist Students Front at BAU following a dispute over wall writings.