Protesting alleged "distortion of slogans and history" by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, students of Dhaka University have announced a rally from 10pm on Sunday where the main slogan of July 14 will be recalled.
Students of Dhaka University, and also some co-coordinators of the movement, accuse some coordinators of distorting the slogans of the July Revolution and history.
The controversies arose on August 14, when some coordinators posted some slogans on Facebook setting aside the main slogans of July 14.
Students of Dhaka University mainly chanted "Tumi Ke? Ami Ke? Rajakar, Rajakar" slogans during the whole protest rally of July 14 night to protest the then-Sheikh Hasina's government addressing anti-quota protesters as "Rajakarer Nati."
After being criticized by the pro-Awami League and Chhatra League Leaders and activists, some coordinators, changed slogans to "Tumi Nou, Ami Noi, Rajakar, Rajakar," "Cheyechilam odhikar, hoye gelam Rajakar," to clarify their position and keep their image clean as they did not want to get involved in clash with the government which they later marked as fascist.
When the students took to roads protesting Sheikh Hasina's address on July 14 chantings Rajakar slogans, some coordinators posted those slogans "Tumi nou, ami noi, Rajakar, Rajakar" slogans. Even though the students did not accept these slogans at large.
Nahid Islam, one of the advisers of the interim government, also posted "Tumi Ke? Ami Ke? Rajakar Rajakar" on his Facebook timeline, marking the slogan as the most brave and effective slogan as these slogans broke all the barriers of the masses and connected all people together to join the movement.
Mosaddek Ali, one of the co-coordinators of the movement, who also got arrested at the Paltan intersection during the protest, said: "The history of 2024 is not the history of any individual or organization alone. It is the history of the entire country. We will not let anyone distort or manipulate this history. Be it a slogan or something else."
Mohammad Ullah Tushar said: "The slogan posted by the coordinating panel was not very sustainable and accepted by the commons. Many other slogans have been given. But in view of the former prime minister's speech, 'who are you? who am I? Rajakar, Rajakar' became the main slogan of the movement. Suddenly coordinators are changing slogans in some sense and intention. It may be that they are distorting slogans to prove themselves extraordinary."
