Fazlur Rahman declared unwelcome at Dhaka University over remarks on July Uprising; effigy burned

Students at Dhaka University have declared BNP Chairperson’s adviser Fazlur Rahman unwelcome on campus after he made disparaging remarks about the July Uprising.

The announcement came at a rally in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s office on Sunday (24 August). Mahin Sarker, a general secretary candidate from the Samonnito Shikkharthi Sangsad panel, made the declaration.

Separately, another group of students burned an effigy of Rahman at TSC, demanding accountability for his comments.

“If anyone denies our uprising or questions our blood-earned victory, we will not remain silent,” Mahin said. “Fazlur Rahman has once again made an audacious remark, challenging the legitimacy of the 2024 uprising. The sacrifice of more than 1,500 martyrs and 20,000 injured is our legitimacy. We honor every struggle in history, but if anyone undermines the sacrifices of farmers and workers, we will not forgive. For these insolent comments, Fazlur Rahman is declared unwelcome at Dhaka University.”

Jamalluddin Muhammad Khalid, a vice-president candidate from the same panel, echoed the stance:

“The struggles of 1947, 1969, 1971, 1990, and 2024 are our history. Anyone who disrespects that history is unwelcome here. We cannot understand why Tarique Rahman continues to keep Fazlur Rahman in his circle. His statements are eroding BNP’s core support base. This responsibility lies not only with him but also with BNP. We will see whether they condemn this insult, especially when several JCD DUCSU candidates themselves are July fighters.”

Abdul Kader, convener of the Dhaka University unit of Ganatantrik Chhatra Sangsad and a vice-president candidate in the upcoming DUCSU election, also reacted sharply on social media. In a Facebook post, he wrote:

“Fazlur Rahman has called the July uprising forces ‘dark powers and children of collaborators.’ We strongly condemn this attempt to undermine the student-people’s uprising. Just as Sheikh Hasina faced the consequences of insulting students as collaborators’ children, Fazlur Rahman too will face the same fate.”