Roadblock for Shammo: What about the general public?
JCD's protest for Shammo raises a critical question: Where is the outcry for everyday victims of Dhaka's rising violence? Justice must extend beyond political lines
Recently, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader and Dhaka University student Shahriar Alam Shammo was murdered near Suhrawardy Udyan. In response, JCD activists staged a protest at the Shahbagh intersection, braving the rain to demand justice. Among their demands were justice for Shammo and the resignation of the university's vice-chancellor and proctor.
Shammo was a student of the 2018–19 session at the Institute of Education and Research (IER), and served as the literature and publication secretary of JCD's Sir AF Rahman Hall unit. On the night of the incident, around 11:00 PM, Shammo was riding his motorcycle near Suhrawardy Udyan when he collided with another bike. This led to a heated altercation and a scuffle. At one point, an unidentified individual stabbed him in the thigh and fled the scene. The injuries proved fatal.
It was a tragic and disturbing event.
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However, tragedy is not isolated to party lines. Around the same time, a video went viral on social media, showing a snatcher stabbing a man in Dhanmondi's Shankar area. The victim was severely injured and later declared dead by doctors. Just days earlier, another violent incident occurred in Dhanmondi's "bhooter goli."
These are not rare occurrences. Incidents of mugging, stabbing, and street violence are becoming alarmingly routine across Dhaka. Which begs the question—where is the justice for the general public?
Why did JCD block the streets for Shammo alone? Why not for the countless others who fall victim to violence every day?
Their protest demanded the resignation of the vice-chancellor and proctor. But is that a logical demand? If a Dhaka University student rides a motorcycle late at night, collides with another bike, engages in a scuffle, and ends up stabbed—how is that the fault of the university administration?
Why isn't there any demand for the resignation of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner instead? Why is there no unified outcry for a safer city?
And where are the student bodies that once vowed to fight for equality, justice, and the dream of a "Bangladesh 2.0"? What is their stance when it comes to public safety?
This isn't about a student leader. This is about all of us.
We must raise our voices not just against individual tragedies tied to political identities but against the systemic failures that continue to endanger everyday citizens. If the DMP, Ramna Thana, and other law enforcement institutions have failed in their duty, they must be held accountable. Public safety is not a privilege—it's a right.
Justice should not be selective. The safety of the general public must not be treated as secondary to political narratives.
So, the question remains: Is public life too petty to matter?
If ordinary lives are overlooked while party affiliations determine public outrage, then perhaps we've lost sight of justice altogether.
Mishuk Rahman is a contributing author.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of The Business Standard.
