JU holds protest march to denounce violence against DU, CU teachers

The teachers and students from Jahangirnagar University (JU) staged a march, performing protest songs and artistic displays to denounce the recent attacks on faculty members at Dhaka University (DU) and Chittagong University (CU).

During the protest, participants denounced the nationwide violence, indiscriminate killings, mass arrests, and false cases related to the quota reform movement. The rally also called for the unconditional release of all detained students, including Arif Sohel, a JU coordinator, and Sabbir Hossain Leon, a student from the Urban and Regional Planning Department.

Twelve teachers from Daffodil International University (DIU) joined the demonstration in solidarity.

On Thursday at 12:30 pm, a protest procession began with songs at the Shahid Minar, proceeded by the old Fazilatunnessa Hall, and observed a minute's silence at the student-civilian martyrs' monument. The march then made its way back to the Shahid Minar, where students from the Fine Arts and Drama departments performed artistic pieces in support of the cause.

At the gathering, Rayhan Rhine, a professor at the Philosophy Department, said, "The people and students of Bangladesh have surmounted the fear imposed by the current government through state machinery. Today, everyone is awake to the cause; fear will overcome oppression, and this popular uprising will inevitably topple the oppressive government."

Addressing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Professor Jamal Uddin of the University’s Department of Environmental Science said, “You continue to lie, and through your falsehoods, you have exposed yourself to the world as a liar. The global media has labelled your tears as ‘crocodile tears.’ It is shameful that you do not comprehend the criticism coming from the world media.”

Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, a professor in the Philosophy Department, stated, "We demand the release of the two detained Jahangirnagar University students. If they are not freed, we will go to them (where they are detained)."

Shamsul Alam, a professor in the Government and Politics Department, remarked, "At the onset of the movement, Obaidul Quader incited the Chhatra League to assault the protesting students. It was the Prime Minister, Obaidul Quader, and the Home Minister who ordered the attacks on the students, yet they are now the ones who are lamenting."

Nahid Kaiser, a teacher at DIU, said, "Our students presented their demands, and they deserved the opportunity to have their concerns heard, whether or not they were consistent. Instead, they have faced severe oppression. As both a teacher and a parent, I stand in solidarity with this movement and call for justice for the students. Those responsible for the violence must be held accountable."

Abdur Rashid Jitu, a coordinator of the movement, condemned recent violence, including the assault on the teachers from Dhaka University (DU) and Daffodil International University (DIU) and a bomb attack on the residence of Chittagong University (CU) teachers.

He also called for the immediate release of all detained individuals, including Arif Sohel and Lion.

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