By Rafsan Ghalib
Faiza Nohan, a student in the Department of Journalism and Media Studies at a private university, posted this on social media platform Facebook. Such a simple description, yet it sends chills down the spine when you close your eyes and imagine the fear. A creepy, terrifying feeling.
Over the past few days, many similar posts have surely caught people’s attention on Facebook. Everywhere, one sentence is mentioned—when will dawn break, when will the night end?
So far, over two hundred students and civilians have been killed in the student protests for quota reform and subsequent violent clashes. The government has used maximum force to suppress these protests.
Meanwhile, ministers claim they have accepted the students’ demands. Among these demands were the withdrawal of all cases against the protesting students and assurances that no student involved in the protests would face political, legal, or administrative harassment.
Law Minister Anisul Haque also told Prothom Alo that no general student would face harassment for participating in the protests. Cases would be filed only against those who engaged in destruction of public property. Not only that, but he and several other ministers have also stated that the protesting students did not engage in attacks, violence, or destruction of property.
But what do we see? Across the capital and the entire country, students are being named and implicated in numerous cases related to the protests. More alarmingly, cases list 1,000-1,500 unnamed suspects, leading to block raids in various areas to capture these unknown individuals. Entire neighborhoods are surrounded by multiple forces, helicopters illuminate areas with searchlights to prevent escapes, and broadband lines are reportedly cut to prevent live streaming of these arrests on social media. Scrolling through Facebook reveals post after post about arrests and missing students. Elder brothers are posting about their younger siblings being taken, sisters are holding placards seeking their brothers’ whereabouts, and teachers are demanding the release of their students. Every night, warnings on Facebook alert about ongoing raids in specific areas. The fear of a loved one being taken has deprived many of sleep.
Police, armed with Chhatra League and Jubo League activists, attacked students. This has been reported in newspapers and TV channels, showing armed individuals shooting at students. Yet, not a single armed assailant has been arrested. Despite assurances that students would not be detained, they are being rounded up. In Dhaka, 86.84% of those arrested are students, workers, and ordinary people, with no political affiliations.
There is no distinction being made about who was involved in the protests. Students who went missing ten to twelve days ago are now being found. One student, who was taking his HSC exams, was also detained.
Not only students, but also people from various professions are being picked up. Day laborers, rickshaw pullers, ordinary employees, shopkeepers, and small business owners are not being spared. A TV channel’s video report showed a mother lamenting, “I sent my son to the market. He doesn’t even attend university. They took him because he’s young. Are all young men to be taken away?”
Coordinators of the protests are being placed under ‘protective custody.’ These coordinators are being taken from across the country, often in the dead of night, with no one knowing who is taking them or where they are being taken. Some are in hiding. The father of a coordinator from Chittagong University traveled from his village to search for his son, moving from one police station to another in Chittagong.
A coordinator from Jahangirnagar University was eventually acknowledged to be in custody and was charged with arson at the capital’s Bridge Building, despite being active in the protests on his own campus in Savar.
As someone working in the media, I have received numerous calls from worried friends and relatives about the arrested and missing individuals. It’s not just night-time raids; people are being taken from their homes in broad daylight. A friend shared an incident where a young man was taken, and his release was only secured after paying money to the police.
One person recounted how his cousin was detained while playing. Later, his family managed to secure his release. A young boy was also taken and falsely implicated in a murder case, which was later dismissed following criticism.
On Sunday, I met a former colleague in Moghbazar, now working at an IT firm. He was heading to his sister’s place for safety. He said local Chhatra League and Jubo League activists had identified him as a protester. Several people from his area were taken by the police, and hefty sums were demanded for their release. Even rickshaw pullers were extorted.
Police are checking mobile phones on the streets and arresting anyone with protest-related content. This is a severe violation of privacy. Senior lawyer Z.I. Khan Panna voiced what every citizen is feeling in court, stating that the current block raids and actions are reminiscent of the Pakistani army’s searches during the liberation war, questioning the legality and morality of such actions.
Amnesty International has condemned the mass arrests and detentions as politically motivated efforts to silence anyone challenging the government, highlighting the climate of fear being perpetuated in Bangladesh.
On Facebook, someone wrote about their brother being taken by individuals claiming to be from the Detective Branch (DB), expressing anger, resentment, and a thirst for revenge. Thousands of others face similar fates, with many having sacrificed their lives.
Does the government consider the consequences of indiscriminate arrests and torture? Those students and youth whose hearts are hardening from witnessing these atrocities—how will the government deal with them in the future?
– Rafsan Ghalib, Subeditor, Prothom Alo.
