‘Video exhibition of July, KUET clash’: SAD announces fresh programme tomorrow after rally protesting KUET clash
Students Against Discrimination (SAD) announced a fresh programme tomorrow (18 February) of a video exhibition displaying the oppression during July uprising and today's KUET clash at the TSC area in Dhaka University.
After completing a rally at 9:30pm, SAD Convenor Hasnat Abdullah made the declaration, saying, "Tomorrow, a video exhibition on the oppression of July and KUET will be shown in all educational institutions across the country. This exhibition will be held at TSC in Dhaka University."
"Chhatra League, which used the politics of machetes and hockey sticks, and they have been dragged down a certain path. Now you [Chatradal] will follow that same path. In the last 16 years, you were oppressed, you were the victims. Don't become the oppressors. If the oppressed become the oppressors, the world becomes uninhabitable," he said.
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Earlier this evening, a group from the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) gathered at the Dhaka University's TSC South Gate after completing a rally at the Raju Memorial Sculpture area this evening protesting the "attack on KUET students" during the day.
At the same time, Jatiotabadi Chatradal, student wing of the BNP, also held a rally at the spot, in protest of an attack on its activists allegedly by the banned student outfit Chhatra League over form distribution at the Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET).
At around 9pm, Chatradal leaders and activists remained at the TCS area after completing their programme. The other group of SAD completed their programme at around 9:30pm.
At 8:30pm, some of the SAD coordinators alleged that the incident of 15 July 2024, where university students across the country came under attack reportedly by members of the Chhatra League, has been repeated at the KUET campus today.
One group attacked while in power, another attacked before assuming power
Earlier, the organisation held protest rallies in front of various halls of Dhaka University.
Referring to the Chhatra League and Jatiotabadi Chatradal respectively, they claimed that one group attacked while in power, and another attacked before coming to power.
They also demanded the attackers be brought to justice.
Present at the rally were General Secretary Arif Sohel, Chief Organiser Abdul Hannan Masud and coordinators Abu Baker Majumdar, Abdul Kader, Rifat Rashid, and others.
Abu Baker Majumdar said at the rally, "We saw that in July, Chhatra League organised programmes alongside us. Today, the attackers at KUET have also organised their programme at the same time. Those who committed crime at KUET must be brought to justice."
Arif Sohel said, "The fight to abolish the fascist framework is not over yet. Today's KUET incident is proof of that. Even after the attack, the attackers are continuing to engage in politics of hatred through statements. Those who engage in such politics in Bangladesh will be driven out of the country."
During the rally, they chanted slogans – "Wherever Chhatra League goes, Chatradal follows, "KUET, have no fear. We haven't left the streets," "Stop the terrorism by Chatradal," "Wake up, student society," "We haven't forgotten July-August."
Also present at the Chatradal rally, Ganesh Chandra Ray Saha, president of Dhaka University Chatradal unit, said, "Our organisation does not force anyone to join rallies or meetings like Chhatra League does. Since 5 August, we have seen various discussions on campus about banning student politics. But you [people] have seen who they were. They were operating under different clandestine organisations. They attacked members of the Chatradal at KUET and are now blaming us for the attack."
Nur Alam Bhuiyan Emon, organising secretary of Dhaka University Chatradal, said, "A covert organisation is behind inciting mobs and causing a situation to turn abnormal. Today, when Chatradal was distributing leaflets, leaders and activists of that organisation attacked them. We strongly condemn and protest this attack."
Anisur Rahman Khandakar Ani, vice president of the unit, said, "This attack is nothing new. Even though we stayed alert, leaders and activists of the covert organisation are trying to blame us."
What happened
Earlier today, eyewitnesses said the Chatradal started a campaign on KUET campus this morning, which led to protests by a group of students who opposed student politics.
Later, the two groups had a confrontation in front of the campus's central Jam-e Mosque, escalating into a clash. They also hurled bricks amid a chase and counter-chase.
The SAD, in the meantime, called for a rally at Dhaka University in protest of "attacks on students" at KUET.
The rally was scheduled to start at 7:30pm from the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture at TSC of Dhaka University, the student platform announced on its official Facebook page this evening.
Earlier, in a Facebook post at 5:11pm, Abdul Hannan Masud, the chief organiser of the Students Against Discrimination, warned Chatradal for attacking the KUET students.
"By carrying out the brutal attacks carried in the style of the banned terrorist organisation Chhatra League at KUET.
