Gonotantrik Chhatra Jote held a torch procession and rally at the University of Dhaka on Monday, demanding the arrest and exemplary punishment of those involved in the killings of Comilla teenager Ishayat Shahriar Apratim and Khulna University student Md Azmul Hossain.
The organization also condemned the detention of 3 ninth-grade students in Dhaka’s Khilgaon and demanded their unconditional release.
The procession began from the university’s Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) at 7:30pm and passed through VC Chattar, Mall Chattar and Shadow before ending at the foot of the Raju Sculpture, where a brief rally was held.
At the rally, Tayub Islam, central office secretary of Biplobi Chhatra Moitri, said: “On one hand, people and children are being killed, while on the other hand, the state is showing extreme indifference. Bangladesh has now turned into a place of death. The sound of these deaths does not reach the Ministry of Home Affairs. They are constantly making indifferent remarks to us.”
He added: “We are living in a state where there is no guarantee of a natural death. Those who are repeatedly involved in killings, disappearances and terrorism are not being brought under the law. This culture of impunity is constantly pushing people’s lives towards crisis.”
Tayub Islam further said: “The state itself is committing crime. There is no discussion in parliament about people’s lives or the future of children; rather, terrorists are being patronized. We have to break this structure of oppression in the hands of the state. Without breaking this state, it is not possible to ensure our right to die a natural death and security of life.”
Shubhashish Chakma, vice-president of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad, said: “When we talk about the deterioration of the law-and-order situation, the home minister or the administration says that it is not possible for them to guard everyone’s bedroom. But we want to say that those carrying out acts of terrorism, abduction and looting are able to do so because they are being given the opportunity. Due to the culture of impunity, criminals are getting out through loopholes in the law.”
He added: “The state’s culture of impunity is directly responsible for this extreme decline in people’s human and moral values.”
