Another arrested over attack on students protesting ‘Adivasi’ artwork removal

Police have arrested another suspect in connection with the attack on students who protested the removal of images featuring the word “Adivasi” – a collective term for a number of ethnic minority groups in the country – from textbooks.

Sayeed Fazlul Karim Swapan, 42, was arrested in Narayanganj’s Fatullah.

This brings the total number of arrests in the case to five.

According to a statement from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police's Media and Public Relations Divison, "Swapan was identified through different footage.

“After confirming his location with the help of information and technology, he was arrested by the Motijheel police."

Motijheel Police Station chief Mejbah Uddin clarified that Swapan was not listed as a suspect in the original case.

However, after reviewing footage from the scene, police identified him.

When asked why he had come on the day of the incident, Officer-in-charge, or OC, Mejbah said: “During initial questioning, he said members of a group called Student for Sovereignty had told him to come that day.”

Swapan, who is involved in local land trading, has no apparent political affiliation, according to police.

The controversy began when a picture that used the term “Adivasi” on the back cover of the Bengali grammar and composition textbook for ninth and tenth graders was removed from its online edition.

The artwork depicted a tree with five leaves, each inscribed with a term for a religious or ethnic community in Bangladesh - Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, and “Adivasi”.

“Tearing leaves is prohibited” was written next to the picture.

Following protests by Dhaka University students under the Students for Sovereignty banner on Jan 12, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, or NCTB, removed the artwork that night.

In response, a group named Agitated Adivasi Students called for a siege of the NCTB building at 11am on Jan 15.

Students for Sovereignty also announced a siege at the same time.

During the protest, ethnic minority students were beaten with batons.

As the two groups arrived at the building to carry out their protests, Adivasi students were attacked.

The following day, Jagadish Chakma, an injured victim, filed a case at Motijheel Police Station, naming 16 individuals and some 200 to 300 unknown suspects.

In the wake of widespread criticism, two suspects, Arif Al Khabir and Abbas, were arrested later that night.

On Jan 29, Habibur Rahman was arrested, followed by Shahadat Farazi Sakib on Feb 12.

Shahadat, a leader of the National Citizen Committee’s Dhanmondi branch, was expelled from the committee after his alleged involvement in the attack was brought to light.