Students from Dhaka University (DU) staged a demonstration under the banner of the “Anti-Discrimination Student Movement,” demanding the trial and punishment of ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina by filing a case with the International Criminal Court (ICC) for her alleged involvement in the killing of students and civilians during quota reform movement.
They also urged for measures to resist counter-revolution.
Central coordinators of the student platform spoke at the rally, among others.
Students from several other educational institutions in Dhaka also joined the protest rally.
The demonstrators accused Sheikh Hasina of ordering mass killings during the recent quota reform movement, alleging that she unleashed the party's armed forces, including the Bangladesh Chhatra League and Awami League, as well as law enforcement agencies like RAB and SWAT, against students and civilians, resulting in hundreds of deaths.
The protest was held in front of the Raju Sculpture Memorial at DU.
The students also called for a ban on student politics on campuses and the elimination of political occupation.
Students from various halls of DU, along with participants from nearby institutions, took part in the demonstration, chanting slogans such as “We want death penalty,” “Death penalty for killer Hasina,” and “Ban student politics.”
JnU students call for movement to reclaim hallsFollowing the demonstration, the students held a rally and marched through the campus.
Coordinators Hasnat Abdullah and Sarjis Alam addressed the rally, with other members of the coordinating body present.
“We demand the interim government file a case in the international tribunal against Hasina and others to ensure justice for the mass killings,” Hasnat Abdullah stated during the rally.
He also urged students to continue their struggle against the Chhatra League’s occupation of campus politics and vowed not to allow its rehabilitation.
Hasnat reminded government advisers of the events of August 5 at Ganabhaban, emphasizing that they were a result of the mass uprising of students.
He warned that just as dictatorships are overthrown, those attempting to reinstate dictatorship would also face removal.
“We maintain a good relationship with the media, which has significantly contributed to this movement. However, some media outlets are attempting to rehabilitate the murderer Hasina, which we will not allow,” Hasnat added.
Sarjis Alam stated: “After the fall of Hasina’s government on August 5th, some miscreants attempted a coup the following day. The defeated forces then tried a judicial coup on Saturday. Thanks to your tireless efforts, we were able to prevent it. These miscreants are still active, and we must remain vigilant.”
Earlier in the morning, Youth and Sports Adviser Asif Mahmud, also the coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement, wrote on his own Facebook status: “No more student politics, awareness is needed."
After that, other coordinators of the anti-discrimination student movement announced this ongoing program on their Facebook status.
