A group of students from Jahangirnagar University (JU) blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway on Thursday, demanding justice for all wrongdoings committed during the Awami League government and calling for the banning of the party, its student wing, and all its affiliated organisations.
The students marched and subsequently blocked the Dhaka-Aricha highway in front of the main gate.
They maintained the blockade for 20 minutes before holding a protest rally. The event was led by Zia Uddin Ayan, a 50th batch student from the Department of Government and Politics.
During the protest, Jahidul Islam Bappi, a student from the university's English department, said that the current government came to power at the cost of the blood of thousands of students and that it is their primary responsibility to repay that debt.
He said, “We have earned this freedom at the cost of thousands of lives. The current government is in power because of their blood. You were not brought to power to enjoy the air conditioning; you must immediately bring those involved in the July massacre to justice, or we will not hesitate to take to the streets against you.”
Jubair Shabab, a student from the Department of Geography and Environment, said: “It has been almost two and a half months since the mass uprising, and the warriors of the July revolution are still suffering in hospital beds. Yet, those involved in the July massacre are still roaming freely. We want to tell the interim government to bring those responsible for the July massacre to justice and ban the Awami League immediately.”
Shobaib Ahmed, a student from the 48th batch, said: “Fascists have no ideology. The Awami League has no ideology either.” Addressing the legal advisor, he added: “Asif, wake up from your slumber. You cannot turn fascists into human beings with love. They must be banned immediately.”
Imran Shahriar, a student from the 46th batch, said: “The group that we removed from power through a mass uprising is now trying to rehabilitate that authoritarian government. We see that the government we brought to power is arresting our oppressed brothers instead of bringing the murderers to justice. I want to make it clear to the Yunus government: if you forget the spirit of the July revolution, we will take to the streets again. Just as we brought down the dictatorship, it will not take us long to remove you from power. Hold accountable those in your office trying to rehabilitate the Awami League and student wing. Ban the Awami League and student wing!”
