Dhaka: Hundreds of Bangladeshi university teachers and TV stars demonstrated in Dhaka on Thursday, demanding the withdrawal of police from campuses and the release of students arrested in a crackdown on mass protests last month.
The students have been protesting since early July against the system of reserving a large share of government jobs for the children of those who fought in the country's 1971 liberation war.
The protests turned violent in mid-July, when nationwide campus rallies were attacked by pro-government groups, clashed with security forces, led to a week-long communications blackout, curfew, and more than 200 deaths.
The Supreme Court finally struck down most of the quotas last week to open civil service posts to candidates on merit, but it was followed by a crackdown on student leaders and protesters and thousands of arrests.
Demonstrations resumed this week, with more groups and separate rallies with students in Dhaka and other cities to demand accountability for the violence and the release of those arrested.
“Around 200 teachers from Dhaka University and some other universities joined us… This movement of teachers is to express solidarity with the students who have been harassed, arrested,” Samina Lutfa, a lecturer in the Department of Sociology at Dhaka University, told Arab News. .
Dhaka University professors demonstrate on the university campus on August 1, 2024 against a crackdown on student protesters. (ASM Amanullah)
The teachers' protest in Dhaka took place in front of the Aparajeo Bangla, a sculpture on the university campus and commemorating those who fought in the 1971 liberation war against Pakistan that resulted in Bangladesh's independence.
They also demonstrated against the presence of security forces who entered the campus two weeks ago to evict the protesting students.
“We have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the police force from the Dhaka University campus,” Lutfa said.
“Many other university teachers have also protested in their campuses today. I have already received information from Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, North South University, Independent University. Teachers from public and private universities joined the movement.
At least 11,000 people, most of whom were students, were arrested due to the protest against the employment quota.
“We demand justice for the atrocities committed by various government forces in an unconstitutional manner against innocent and unarmed students,” said Prof ASM Amanullah, social lecturer at Dhaka University.
“Today we cannot stand in front of our students in the classroom if we do not stand by the students… Today the students also joined our movement. From now on, it has been decided that we teachers will be in the forefront of the movement. Teachers across the country will do the same. “
Meanwhile, around 300 actors, film directors and TV stars blocked the main intersection of Farmgate, Dhaka's busiest and most populated area.
“This is a critical time for the country when so many lives have been lost, and students are the main stakeholders in this situation. We gathered on the streets to express solidarity with the students,” said filmmaker Piplu Khan.
“We want the state to listen sensitively to the demands of the students.”
Ajmeri Haque Badhon, a popular Bangladeshi actress and co-organizer of the rally, said it was her responsibility to protest.
“The demands put forward by the students are legitimate, and we express our solidarity with them,” she told Arab News.
“We cannot tolerate children being killed by gunfire in a free country…Agitating students will shoot in the streets to demand their rights.”
