Left student groups at DU protest mob attacks in Kushtia, Shahbagh

Several left-leaning student organisations yesterday evening brought out a procession at Dhaka University, protesting the killing of a pir by a mob in Kushtia and the attack on at least four individuals in the capital’s Shahbagh on Friday night.

The procession was led by Bangladesh Chhatra Union, Bangladesh Chhatra Front, and Biplobi Chhatra Moitree.

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Shahbagh-e hamla keno? BNP jobab chai” (Why attacks in Shahbagh? BNP, we want answers), “Mob shontrash hoyni shesh, gorje utho Bangladesh” (Mob terrorism has not ended; rise up Bangladesh), “Mazar-e hamla keno? BNP jobab chai” (Why attacks on shrines? BNP, we want answers), and “Sufi-imam khun keno? BNP jobab chai” (Why killings of Sufi imams? BNP, we want answers), among others.

Later, a brief rally was held at the foot of the Raju Bhashkarjo.

There, Sami Abdullah, general secretary of DU’s Biplobi Chhatra Moitree, said parliament had turned into a “circus” as it had failed to ensure the security of minorities in the country.

Another leader of the organisation, Riyadul Islam Riyad, said the government’s assurances now sound hollow. “Despite assurances of maintaining law and order by the elected government, attacks on religious and gender minorities continue.”

The organisation’s central general secretary, Jabir Ahmed Jubel, said the current law and order situation did not reflect that the country was being run by an elected government.

“In the last two days, we have witnessed acts of violence reminiscent of the interim government period…. How is it possible to attack a khanka ['sacred place'] and kill its mystic leader? If law enforcement had been active, this would not have been possible.”

Referring to the Shahbagh incident, he said, “A group is now out to dictate who can gather or spend time in Shahbagh.

“We remember that before the election, the prime minister pledged to ensure safety for people of all identities -- believers, non-believers, hill tract communities, and others. But we see no reflection of that assurance.”

He voiced concerns about the possible re-emergence of past militant figures.

Meghmallar Basu, president of DU Chhatra Union, said the civil rights of all citizens must be ensured. “Time has come to stop calling militants by any other name. Militants must be identified as such, and the state must deal with them accordingly.”

He alleged that the BNP government was playing with fire, courting serious consequences.

“The incident in [Kushtia’s] Philipnagar [yesterday] and the one in Shahbagh [on Friday] must be thoroughly investigated without delay.”

Meanwhile, victims of the Shahbagh mob attack, mostly rights activists and artists, said in a press statement yesterday that a group under the banner of “Azadi Andolon” assaulted them over their perceived gender identities.

The victims also accused some “mobile journalists” present at the scene of instigating the attack and alleged non-cooperation from police.

“We asked to file a case. The police refused to register an FIR or a GD and offered no assistance or immediate medical help,” they said.

After nearly four hours, the police recorded what they described as an FIR. "Later, through legal consultation, we learned that it was not an FIR, nor a GD. It was merely documented as a complaint.”

Demanding a full investigation and justice, they said the incident was an attack on their fundamental rights, safety, and dignity.

The statement said women were dragged by their hair, thrown to the ground, and kicked repeatedly, while bricks carried in bags were used to beat them.

“People were assaulted indiscriminately, regardless of gender. Our heads, chests, and backs were targeted. Clothes were torn, and there were attempts to strip women,” the statement said, adding, “Their behaviour made it clear: they were not neutral observers.”

In their statement, they further said, "This attack was not just on us, it was on our basic rights, our safety, our dignity. This was an attack on our constitutional rights as citizens. We demand a full investigation, identification of the attackers, and demand justice, safety, and accountability.”