Jahangirnagar University Economics Department former professor Anu Muhammad emphasized that student politics is integral to Bangladesh's existence.
He said this during a rally at at the Central Shaheed Minar on Friday.
Anu Muhammad, also Democratic Rights Committee member, criticized the political party's student wings for engaging in terrorism but acknowledged that many student organizations have opposed these groups.
He raised the question of who would counter the ongoing violence if student activism decreases, and called for maintaining active student politics to eradicate terrorism and domination from the university.
Terming the recent Jahangirnagar and Dhaka university incidents as 'gang killing' and 'mob violence', he said if there is no student politics then who will create resistance against such misdeeds in the academic arena.
"The people who carried out such heinous activities did not use any organisation's name but they must have blessings and shared power from somewhere," he added.
The state must take the responsibilities of the families as most of the injured and killed persons are from poor families, he said, adding: "So far, we came to know about the decision of giving Taka five lakh to family of each martyr and Taka one lakh to injured persons. But it is not sufficient, rather taking responsibilities and doing something sustainable is desirable.”
The former JU professor also called for justice for the July murders, reduction in the prices of essential commodities, protection of minorities, and an end to extrajudicial killings.
While acknowledging the limitations of the interim government, he emphasized the need for accountability in the July incident and advocated for the publication of a list of those affected. He proposed the establishment of a new democratic constitution based on public opinion to eliminate authoritarian centralization and discriminatory practices through constitutional reforms.
Immediate measures should include controlling the prices of goods and announcing a national minimum wage to support workers.
Anu Muhammad criticized harmful power projects, called for free healthcare for all, and mandated treatment in government hospitals for government officials.
He demanded constitutional recognition for all hill tribes and justice for recent violence in the hill regions, emphasizing the need to end oppressive governance and withdraw harmful agreements.
He urged the interim government to disclose all the treaties signed by ousted Awami League government with foreign countries.
Democratic Rights Committee organised the rally participated by the people from all strata of life.
“The previous government has inked scores of treaties with India, China, USA and Russia. We urge the government to reveal all treaties in details and cancel those which are against the national interest, said eminent economist Professor Anu Muhammad.
He particularly mentioned about Rampal Power Plant and Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant saying the interim government must take specific decision about the damaging projects.
Professor Salimullah Khan said that the killings at Dhaka University and Jahangirnagar University may be part of a larger conspiracy.
He noted that the syndicate at Dhaka University immediately called for an end to politics among students, teachers, and staff, questioning whether this was a response to the July uprising.
He highlighted that one of the nine-point demands of the anti-discrimination student movement was to halt student politics, suggesting that this could undermine the very foundation of Bangladesh's formation and the success of the July mass uprising.
Following the rally, participants held a protest march against the military presence in the hills and the ban on student politics, starting from the Shaheed Minar and concluding at Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University.
Dr Samina Luthfa of DU Sociology department, veteran physician Dr Harunur Rashid, Human rights activists advocate Jyotirmoy Barua, UPDF leader Michael Chakma, Coordinator of Democratic Student Alliance Salman Siddique and Puja Rani Das of Harijan community also spoke on the occasion.
