The left-leaning student alliance Ganatantrik Chhatra Jote staged a protest procession demanding justice over the alleged “police attack” on Nayem Uddin, a student of the Anthropology Department Dhaka University and a student leader.
The procession began at 7pm on Tuesday from Payra Chattar at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) of the University. Marching through VC Chattar and the residential hall area, the rally ended at the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
At the rally, the organization demanded the removal of Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner (DC) Masud and exemplary punishment for the police members involved in the incident.
Addressing the gathering, victim student Nayem Uddin alleged the police’s “reckless” and “anti-people” character had been exposed even before any offence was proven. “I identified myself as a University of Dhaka student. If the police can behave so aggressively even then, it is clear to ordinary people-from rickshaw pullers and day labourers to garment workers-how much class discrimination and class hostility this state maintains against the public,” he said.
Speaking at the rally, Nuzia Hasin Rasha, president of the DU unit of Biplobi Chhatra Maitri, said there was no difference in character between the Awami League, the interim government, and the newly elected BNP government.
Rasha added: “We are standing against that injustice, an injustice we have been protesting since the post-uprising period. Even after the arrival of an elected government, we are once again forced to stand here.”
She further alleged that Ducsu, which was supposed to represent students, had failed to act. “We have seen Sarba Mitra Chakma taking up sticks and violating citizens’ human rights. Have they stood by Nayem? Have they demanded Masud’s removal? No, they remain busy in appeasement,” she said.
Rafiquzzaman Farid, general secretary of the Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said: “The police uniform may have changed, but the character of the police has not. We said Sheikh Hasina has fled, but the fascist system remains in place.”
