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Published : 28 May 2025, 11:35 PM
Democratic Students’ Alliance, a coalition of left-leaning student organisations at Dhaka University, have held a torch procession protesting the acquittal of convicted war criminal ATM Azharul Islam.
They also condemned the attack on leftist student groups at Rajshahi University by Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student front of Jamaat-e-Islami.
The procession began around 7:30pm from the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) and moved through the university’s residential halls.
As it reached Jasimuddin Hall, a group of residential students began shouting “Fake, fake,” slogans from the back.
A few individuals attempted to physically assault members of the leftist student organisations, prompting claims that Shibir supporters were attempting to attack their rally.
The procession continued through Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Modhu’s Canteen, and Central Library, before concluding at the Raju Memorial Sculpture, where protesters shouted slogans such as “Jamaat-Shibir-Razakars, get out of Bengal now,” “Smash the secret hideouts,” “Break and destroy Shibir’s dens,” “Hasina-Azhar are traitors of Bengal,” and “Shibir will follow the same path as the Awami League.”
Following the procession, a brief rally was held.
Fahim Ahmed, general secretary of the Democratic Students’ Council, said: “Just like the Chhatra League once mobilised against student rallies, we’re now witnessing the same from Shibir in the halls.”
He added, “Yesterday’s attacks are nothing new, it’s part of their legacy. These attacks clearly reflect Jamaat-Shibir’s continued opposition to the spirit of 1971. The forces who had the blood of Biranganas on their hands during the Liberation War will never find a place in this country.”
Mitu Sarkar, president of the Bangladesh Students’ Federation, said, “This interim government is continuing the legacy of Awami fascism. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of Awami fascism, was the first to release war criminals, and this interim government is repeating that history.”
Nayeem Uddin, convenor of the Revolutionary Youth Movement’s metropolitan unit, said: “Jamaat-Shibir’s role in the genocide of 1971 is evident from their recent attacks on leftist student groups in Rajshahi and Chattogram.”
He said, “We’ve seen Shibir attack indigenous communities when they protest for their rights, and even at the book fair, they mobilised under the guise of ‘Touhidi Janata’ to attack women selling sanitary pads.”
“They claim to be anti-India, yet when Modi was elected in 2017, Jamaat offered their congratulations. Meanwhile, our communist Maoists are engaged in resistance against India,” he concluded.
