Students hold rally at DU protesting attack on Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala
Students held a rally at Dhaka University's TSC area protesting the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala today (2 December).
"We strongly condemn the attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission. We want to make it clear that we [Bangladeshis] will play against India on an equal footing. There will be no king-peasant relationship. We will not accept India's dominance as long as even a drop of blood runs through our veins," said Dhaka University student Zahid Ahsan after students from various halls joined the rally around 9pm today in front of the Raju Memorial Sculpture.
They chanted slogans like "Golami na Azadi", "Delhi na Dhaka", "Why the attack on Agartala mission, Delhi must respond", "Indian dominance- break it, stop it", "Abu Sayeed was martyred, the war is not over", "We have shed blood, will shed more."
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"We have one identity, we are Bangladeshis. We are united in protecting the independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh," said Joy Pal, a student of Dhaka University.
Anti-discrimination Student Movement coordinators Mahin Sarkar, Tariqul Islam, and member Cynthia Jahin Ayesha were present at the time, until the students wrapped up their programme at around 11pm.
Earlier, the Chhatra Odhikar Parishad held a torch procession in the same area.
During that time, the council's President Bin Yamin Mollah said, "India had sided with the Awami League long before the elections. Now they have sheltered their allies, including [former prime minister] Sheikh Hasina."
"So, now have to fight on two fronts. On one side, against the Awami League's allies and on the other side, against the extremists of India. We have repeatedly urged to ban the Awami League. But the government did not do so."
Addressing West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark regarding the deployment of UN peacekeepers in Bangladesh, Yamin Mollah said, "Oil your own machine. Minorities are being persecuted in your country. Ensure their security. Don't meddle in the internal affairs of Bangladesh."
Earlier, Hasnat Abdullah, convener of the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, called for the demonstration in a post on his verified Facebook profile this evening.
The attack on the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission took place this noon as thousands of people took out a massive rally in the Tripura capital to protest the arrest of ISCKON leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.
Meanwhile, the government of Bangladesh said it deeply resents the "violent demonstration and attack" by a large group of protesters of the Hindu Sangharsh Samity of Agartala on the premises of the Assistant High Commission.
"The accounts received conclusively attest that the protesters were allowed to aggress into the premises, by breaking down the main gate of Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in a pre-planned manner. In the process, in the presence of the members of the local law enforcement agencies, they vandalised the flagpole, desecrated the national flag of Bangladesh and also damaged properties inside the Assistant High Commission," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
On the other hand, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the breach of premises at the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Agartala is "deeply regrettable".
Issuing a statement on this, the MEA said, "Diplomatic and consular properties should not be targeted under any circumstances."
"Government is taking action to step up security arrangements for the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi and their Deputy/Assistant High Commission in the country," it added.
