Left-leaning student bodies demonstrate over bail denial to fellow protesters

Leaders and activists of nine left-leaning student organisations have demonstrated in Dhaka University area of the capital this evening, after a Dhaka court rejected bail plea of their seven fellow protesters.

Several hundred protesters brought out a torch procession from TSC around 7pm and marched towards Kataban via Shahbagh, demanding unconditional release of the arrestees and reapeal of the controversial Digital Security Act. 

From there it ended in a brief assembly at Raju sculpture.

During the procession, General Secretary of Bangladesh Student Union Deepak Shil said that the movement has not slowed down since the assassination of witer Mushtaq.

Deepak said, "It is not the judiciary that did not grant bail to our comrades, rather the bails were not granted only because of the instruction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Home Minister. So, we will not seek justice from the court, we will decide the fate of this government in the streets."

General Secretary of the Bangladesh Student Federation Zahid Sujan said, "This arbitrary government knew the people had not accepted them so far. No matter the effort we need to give, we will use all our strength to deal with this arbitrary government."

Nasir Uddin Prince, general secretary of Samajtantrik Chhatra Front, said they will wage a tougher movement if the authorities do not pay heed to their demands.   

Earlier on February 26, seven protestors were arrested from a procession protesting against the custodial death of writer Mushtaq Ahmed.