The people of Bangladesh are rising up against the reign of terror orchestrated by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student organization of the ruling party Awami League. As the world watches, horrifying incidents of human rights violations perpetrated by the Chhatra League are coming to light, with recent attacks on opposition leaders and activists sparking outrage and calls for international intervention.
On August 2, a deeply distressing event unfolded at Dhaka University’s Student-Teacher Center (TSC), where Gana Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque and his associates were brutally assaulted by members of the Chhatra League. The attack, which occurred at approximately 4:30 pm, saw Nurul Haque and more than 20 people’s rights leaders subjected to severe beatings, leaving them with injuries that required immediate medical attention. Ten of the injured victims were admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital, highlighting the extent of the violence unleashed by the Chhatra League.
Nurul Haque’s visit to the campus was part of a protest rally organized by the Students’ Rights Council to condemn the frequent attacks on opposition political parties’ leaders and workers, the harassment of civilians, the killing of a madrasa student named Rezaul, and the arbitrary arrest of BUET students. The demonstration was meant to take place in front of TSC’s Raju Bhaskarya at 4 pm, but the peaceful procession soon turned into a horrifying scene of violence and aggression.
Eyewitness accounts and video footage of the incident reveal a disturbing sequence of events. As Nurul Haque and his supporters from Chhatra Odhikar Parishad marched towards TSC, a group of BCL leaders and activists, led by Mazharul Kabir (Shayan) and Tanveer Hasan Saikat, stood in front of the procession with motorcycles. The attackers chanted derogatory slogans before launching a ferocious assault on Nurul Haque and his followers.
Unable to bear the relentless beating, Nurul Haque and his associates attempted to escape, but the BCL members chased them down, inflicting further harm. Shockingly, the assault continued even as Nurul Haque sought refuge under the metro rail in the TSC area, where he was mercilessly punched and beaten, resulting in visible injuries and blood pouring from his head.
The perpetrators of this heinous act are known to be fervent followers of Mazharul Kabir (Shayan) and Tanveer Hasan Saikat, who hold prominent positions within the Chhatra League. Their involvement in orchestrating such violent attacks raises serious questions about the organization’s intentions and its blatant disregard for human rights and democratic values.
The alarming nature of the incident has prompted the people of Bangladesh to demand international action against the Chhatra League. Fed up with the persistent terrorist activities of this group, citizens are calling on the global community to label the Chhatra League as a terrorist organization, recognizing the grave threat it poses to fundamental human rights and democratic freedoms.
The incident has also shed light on the role of the university administration in safeguarding the safety and security of students and activists. The Chhatra League’s manipulation of a human chain program, supposedly organized by Dhaka University students but, in reality, driven by Chhatra League leaders and workers, underscores the need for transparent and accountable measures to ensure the protection of academic environments from political violence.
Nurul Haque’s history of being targeted by the Chhatra League in 2018 during his demands for quota reform in government jobs underscores the organization’s track record of violence and intimidation.
As the world witnesses the grim reality of human rights violations in Bangladesh, the urgency to hold the Chhatra League accountable for its actions grows. International pressure and solidarity with the people of Bangladesh may be crucial in putting an end to the reign of terror and restoring the principles of democracy, human rights, and peaceful coexistence within the nation.
