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Dhaka,May 4, 2025: Students of Dhaka University staged a protest on Sunday in response to an attack on Hasnat Abdullah, the Chief Organizer (Southern Region) of the National Citizen Party (NCP), in Gazipur.
The demonstration, which also called for banning the Awami League, began in the university’s hall area, proceeded through the Vice-Chancellor’s Square, and culminated in a brief rally at the base of the Raju Sculpture.
During the protest, students raised slogans such as “Hasnat Bhai is my brother, why is he injured, interim government answer!” “The blood of July will not go in vain,” “Ban Awami League,” and “Inquilab Zindabad.” The rally condemned the attack on Hasnat Abdullah and demanded justice within 24 hours, alongside an immediate ban on the Awami League.
Speakers at the rally highlighted Hasnat Abdullah’s significant role in Bangladesh’s political landscape, particularly his firm stance against the Awami League and India. “Hasnat Abdullah has played a more critical role than many national leaders. His uncompromising position on the Awami League and India makes him a target,” one speaker noted. They urged the government to arrest the perpetrators of the attack within 24 hours and ban the Awami League without delay.
Rozoyan Ahmed Rifat, a student from the Law Department, described the Awami League, its youth wing Jubo League, and student wing Chhatra League as “extortionists and looters” rather than political organizations. “They are responsible for killing two thousand people during the July uprising. They are terrorist organizations, and we don’t want to see them in Bangladesh, let alone in politics,” he said.
Hasib Al Islam, a Sociology student, equated the attack on Hasnat to an assault on the entire July movement. “The government has failed to prevent this. They must immediately declare the Awami League banned,” he demanded. He further warned, “This country will not run on Delhi’s prescriptions. If the July Proclamation is not announced promptly, students and the public will take to the streets again, just like the July uprising.”
The protest reflects growing unrest among students, who see the attack as part of a broader attempt to suppress the July movement’s legacy. Authorities have reportedly detained two suspects in connection with the attack, and police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify others involved.
AI/MR
