Several eminent civil society members have issued an ultimatum for the unconditional release of six coordinators of the quota reform movement, currently in the custody of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Detective Branch, within 24 hours.
Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman made the announcement at a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) on Tuesday on behalf of civil society.
The event commenced with a written statement read by Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of the Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA).
During the press briefing, the civil society members raised their 11-point demand, which included a full list of those killed during the quota reform movement, a transparent investigation into the killings under the supervision of high-level UN experts and punishment for the culprits.
Speakers at the press conference included Gitiara Nasreen, professor of mass communication and journalism at Dhaka University; Asif Nazrul, professor of law at DU; human rights activist Shireen Huq; Shamsul Huda, executive director of the Association for Land Reform and Development (ALRD); and several other rights activists and teachers.
Detention unconstitutional, says TIB chief
TIB’s Iftekharuzzaman said: “We are fearful and anxious. The dream we had and for which the country was liberated… there is now a recurrence of past incidents after 53 years of independence.
“This is our failure, and our generation is bearing the brunt of it. After this press conference, we will go to the DB office and present our demands.”
If the six coordinators and others illegally detained were not released within 24 hours, civil society members would hold a protest in front of the DB office, he added.
"The DB claims that the coordinators are being held for their safety. Does this mean the entire country will be turned into a DB office? This is a violation of the constitution, which they seem to have forgotten. We are now having to seek justice from them. The power is supposed to belong to the people. The government has forgotten that freedom of speech, expression and the right to protest against discrimination are constitutional rights."
Meanwhile, Prof Gitiara Nasreen demanded an end to mass arrests and “block raids,” condemning what she said were the government's brutal actions against protesting students.
The government must move away from this culture of fear, violence and repression, she said, adding: “We must ensure a peaceful, normal and safe environment. We live in an independent country."
Dr Asif Nazrul highlighted the reports of detainees being selected based on the presence of injuries on their bodies.
"We heard that 267 people have died, with 21 buried as unclaimed bodies, but the actual number is higher.”
He criticized the government saying it was concerned only with infrastructure, claiming that at least 100 minors, including 10 school-going children aged 4-7 years, had been killed.
“We learned about the fatal shooting of Mugdho, who had distributed water and food during the protests. Are you murderers? Why is there no justice for these killings? The students were not protesting for the government's downfall or resignation. So why were their demands not met? We are no longer afraid; we will also take to the streets," the DU professor went on to say.
"Has remand become a constitutional law in Bangladesh now? How can someone be abducted from Gonoshasthaya Nagar Hospital by the DB? We are witnessing violations of Articles 13 and 19 right before our eyes. The government is now desperate for blood," he said.
On the other hand, Shamsul Huda said: "We do not carry a Pakistani identity; our only identity is that we are citizens of this country.
“We have endured many things over the past 15 years, witnessing corruption, repression and crime. Now we see our children being killed with the weapons bought with our tax money. This is not the freedom we fought for. What we could not achieve… our cowardice will be erased by our children. For this, we must protect them, even if it means sacrificing our lives."
Dr Samina Luthfa, associate professor of sociology at DU, said: “Our universities have a century-long history of movements. But this time, the students have shown how to conduct a movement.”
To suppress this movement, false cases were being filed and people were being detained, she added.
Samina claimed arrest raids were being conducted even in hospitals. “Injured individuals are leaving hospitals out of fear of being arrested while undergoing treatment. No law is being followed. The public has caught on to every lie of the government.”
Detectives took the six coordinators – Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, Abu Bakar Majumdar, Sarjis Alam, Hasnat Abdullah and Nusrat Tabassum – into custody over Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
DB chief Harunor Rashid later reassured their families saying they had been taken into custody for their own safety.