Students at DU protest against recent mob violence across Bangladesh

A group of Dhaka University (DU) students demonstrated and staged a protest rally on campus on Monday night (23 June), condemning the recent wave of mob violence across the country, including the assault on a Hindu man and his son in Lalmonirhat over alleged blasphemy.

They brought out a procession at the Jagannath Hall premises at around 10:30pm and marched through various parts of the campus, including TSC and the VC Chattar, before concluding in front of Ruqayyah Hall, where a brief rally was held.

Organised under the banner "Dhaka University Against Oppression" by leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Students' Union (BSU), the protest aimed to raise voices against incitement to mob attacks and religiously motivated violence.

During the rally, the students chanted various slogans demanding justice and an end to mob violence.

Orni Anjum, a leader of the DU unit of the BSU, said that after the interim government took power, there has been a massive increase in mob violence across the country.

She cited Sunday's (22 June) incident in Lalmonirhat, where a father and son — both barbers by profession — were publicly harassed and then taken into police custody without specific charges under the vague pretext of "blasphemy".

"This is not an isolated case," Anjum added. "Since 5 August [last year], we have seen such extremist groups inciting mobs and bypassing the legal system, launching attacks without evidence or accountability."

Another student, Ripon Chowdhury, said: "Mob violence puts women and minorities at constant risk. The 2024 uprising sought to eliminate inequality — how is attacking innocent people not a form of discrimination?"

He further urged the government to ensure the rule of law and take immediate, concrete action against the rise of religiously motivated mob violence.