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A large number of people have used red-coloured profiles and cover photos on their Facebook accounts apparently to counter the government's decision to observe a national mourning in remembrance of those killed during the quota reform movement.
Many Facebook users were also found using photos depicting eyes and faces tied with red clothes as part of a campaign of quota reform protesters.
The decision to observe national mourning on Tuesday was taken at a cabinet meeting held on Monday at the Prime Minister's Office in Dhaka with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The government officials wore black badges and supporters of the ruling Awami League used black photos in their Facebook accounts for the observance on Tuesday.
In an opposing move, the anti-discrimination student movement, the organising body of quota reform protesters, urged supporters of their movement to use red-coloured photos in Facebook accounts, considering the traditional association of black with mourning.
Abdul Hannan Masud, a coordinator of the movement, said they considered the government’s decision to observe national mourning as a mockery to the victims.
"We, the students, boycotted their black badge programme of mourning day. They still have blood on their hands," he claimed.
A statement was also issued by Mahin Sarkar, one of the coordinators of the movement, on Monday night. The coordinator expressed gratitude to the teachers, journalists, intellectuals, professionals, workers and common people for showing solidarity with the demands of the anti-discrimination student movement. He also urged the government to immediately accept the nine-point demand of students.