Rajshahi, 29 July – Students from Rajshahi University (RU) staged a major protest on Monday morning, blocking the Dhaka-Rajshahi Highway to condemn and challenge the detention of seven coordinators of the quota reform movement. The demonstrators accused the authorities of coercing these activists into making forced statements.
The protest began around 11:30 AM in front of RU’s main gate, where students obstructed traffic on the crucial highway, demanding justice and accountability. Prominent faculty members joined the protest in support, including Dr. Md. Saleh Hasan Nakib from the Department of Physics, Dr. Iftekharul Alam Masud from the Department of Arabic, and Dr. Md. Jamirul Islam and Dr. Md. Saiful Islam from the Department of Social Work.
During the protest, students chanted a series of slogans, reflecting their frustration and demands for justice:
- “Many storms inside the chest, we have a heart, shoot us!”
- “Why did my brother die? We want answers from the administration!”
- “In the land of Bangabandhu, there’s no place for discrimination!”
- “Awake, awake, the student community is awake!”
- “Why did Abu Sayeed die? We want answers from the administration!”
- “It burns, it burns, the blood is on fire!”
- “Why are our halls closed? We want answers from the administration!”
Mehedi Hasan Sajib, a coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement at RU, expressed strong discontent, saying, “The government has shown extreme audacity by detaining our coordinators and forcing scripted statements under threat of violence. We have been silent until now, but not anymore.”
Professor Dr. Iftekharul Alam Masud highlighted the significance of the students’ stand, stating, “In such adverse conditions, amidst so much bloodshed and numerous martyrs, your courage and awareness are the greatest weapons for the souls of the martyrs. We must strive towards establishing a humane Bangladesh, fulfilling their dream. Your demands are entirely reasonable. In a healthy and civilized society, such demands shouldn’t need to be voiced—they should be fulfilled automatically. The unelected government has brought the country to such a state that students and teachers have to take to the streets, abandoning classes and exams. We demand an immediate end to this situation.”
Professor Dr. Saleh Hasan Nakib added, “We are standing on blood right now. The cold-blooded killing of people and the chaos created across the state has not only hurt us but also outraged us. I urge students to stay on the path of justice throughout their lives. You are on the side of fairness, justice, and righteousness. As a teacher, I am proud of your courage and determination.”
The protest has drawn significant attention and support from various quarters, underscoring the growing discontent over recent actions by authorities and the ongoing struggle for reform.
