JU students, teachers demand release of detained quota movement coordinators

Students of Jahangirnagar University (JU) continued their protest on Monday, demanding the unconditional release of all detainees from the quota reform movement, including its coordinators.

The demonstration began at 4 pm on Monday (July 29) with a procession starting from the road near the central Shaheed Minar of the university. The procession moved along the important points of the university and concluded with a brief rally at the Shahid Minar premises.

Despite the empty dormitories and the absence of most students from campus, around 100 students joined the protest under the banner of the Anti-discrimination Student Movement. Several teachers also expressed their solidarity.

The protesters raised four demands: the unconditional release of JU student Arif Sohel, one of the movement's coordinators; prosecution for the torture of central coordinators; immediate prosecution of those involved in the killing of students; and an end to vexatious litigation and mass arrests of ordinary students.

Zahidul Islam, a coordinator of the JU branch of the movement, stated at the rally, "We've witnessed genocide in Kashmir and Palestine following internet shutdowns; similarly, in Bangladesh, the dictatorial government has shut down the internet and committed genocide."

He added, "The DB police tried to call off the movement by threatening coordinators with arms, but we rejected this. We demand the release of all coordinators first, then we'll make a collective decision."

Sohagi Samia, a JU-based protester, said, "This dictatorial government has attacked ordinary students using its Chhatra League cadres and tried to suppress us with armed forces. No despotic ruler can survive in a country where students are brave enough to face Chhatra League's machetes and police bullets in protest."

Professor Mohammad Golam Rabbani from the History Department stated at the rally, "Students and ordinary people protesting for quota reform across the country have been killed. As a teacher, I demand justice for them. I want students to feel safe, return to the university, and attend classes."

In solidarity with the students' movement, Professor Mohammad Mafruhi Sattar from the Pharmacy Department, Professor Shamima Sultana from the Bangla Department, Professor Jamal Uddin from the Department of Environmental Science, and Associate Professor Mohammad Rezaul Rakib from the Geography and Environment Department, joined the rally.

Meanwhile, students around JU have reported sleepless nights due to the ongoing crackdown by law enforcement agencies, feeling increasingly insecure.

The JU administration urged law enforcement to avoid harassing innocent students. They also asked any incidents of student harassment be reported to the proctor's office. This appeal was made in a notice issued on Monday, signed by Mohammad Mohiuddin, the acting director of the university's public relations department.

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