Student faction gives 24 hrs to cancel Rajshahi committee of student movement

One faction of the student community in Rajshahi, who actively participated in the July uprising, has given a 24-hour ultimatum to cancel the newly announced Rajshahi District and Metropolitan Committee of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, alleging that those who sacrificed during the uprising were not included in the committee.

They gave this ultimatum at a press conference organised at Saheb Bazar Zero Point in Rajshahi at 11am today.

At the same time, they declared the committee's central coordinator Mahin Sarkar and the movement's Rajshahi University coordinator Salauddin Ammar as personae non gratae.

In a written statement, one of the protesters, Zubair Rashid, said that the students of Rajshahi, like the rest of the country, shed their blood in the July Revolution. "However, we are sadly observing that a vested interest group has formed a farcical pocket committee through some privileged infiltrators after 5 August, minus the real heroes of the July Revolution."

He further said that the committees "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Rajshahi District" and "Anti-Discrimination Student Movement Rajshahi Metropolitan" announced on 30 January, included outsiders and controversial people who are against the spirit of the movement instead of the courageous, revolutionary and reliable leadership of the real movement. 

These people who are against the movement are accused of extortion, power-grabbing and taking advantage of various institutions and markets, he said.

According to the statement, there have been allegations that Mahin Sarkar and Fatin Mahadi formed this committee in exchange for a large sum of money. More concerning is that many individuals linked to the fascist Awami League's politics have been appointed to lead the committee.

Even key positions have been given to members of Awami League's ally Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal's student organisation, it claimed. 

The statement also mentions that individuals who were not involved during last year's movement in Rajshahi, including those from outside the region, were given positions, while the real fighters were excluded. This is seen as an insult to the spirit of the July Revolution and a betrayal of the students of Rajshahi.

Additionally, a murder case suspect holds a top position in the committee, which raises doubts about its true intentions, it alleged.

The students of Rajshahi are demanding the cancellation of this "illegitimate pocket committee" within 24 hours and seek intervention from the central coordinators, it read.

In response, Rajshahi University's coordinator Salauddin Ammar claimed that those who issued the statement have political party affiliations, particularly the BNP and Chhatra Shibir.

He argued that the formation of the committee was legitimate and that it will operate independently of political agendas.