Dhaka: Hundreds of Bangladeshi university teachers and TV stars held demonstrations in Dhaka on Thursday, demanding the withdrawal of police from campuses and the release of students arrested in a crackdown over last month’s mass protests.
Students have been demonstrating since the beginning of July against a rule that reserved the bulk of government jobs for the descendants 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, leading to clashes with security forces, a week-long communications blackout, a curfew, and more than 200 deaths.
The Supreme Court eventually scrapped most of the quotas last week to open civil service positions to candidates on merit, but this was followed by a crackdown on student leaders and protesters, with thousands arrested.
Demonstrations resumed this week, with more groups joining the students and holding separate rallies across Dhaka and in 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 with us ... This teachers’ protest is to express solidarity with the students facing oppression, arrest,” Samina Lutfa, a lecturer in the sociology department of Dhaka University, told Arab News.
Dhaka University lecturers demonstrate at the university’s campus on Aug. 1, 2024 against a crackdown on student protesters. (A.S.M. Amanullah)
The teachers’ protest in Dhaka took place in front of the Aparajeyo Bangla, a sculpture on the university campus and a memorial to 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, which entered the campus two weeks ago to expel protesting students.
“We demanded immediate withdrawal of police force from the Dhaka University campus,” Lutfa said.
“Teachers from many other universities also organized protests at their campuses today. I have already received information from Rajshahi University, Jahangirnagar University, North South University, Independent University. Teachers from both public and private universities joined the protest.”
At least 11,000 people, mostly students, have been arrested following the job quota protests.
“We demand justice for the atrocities against the innocent and unarmed students committed in an unconstitutional way by different government forces,” said Prof. A.S.M. Amanullah, a social lecturer at Dhaka University.
“We will not be able to stand in front of our students in the classrooms if we don’t stand beside them today ... Students also joined our protest today. It has been decided that from now on, we, the teachers, will be in the front rows during the protests. Teachers across the country will do the same.”
Meanwhile, about 300 actors, film directors and TV stars blocked the main intersection in Farmgate, one of Dhaka’s busiest and most populous areas.
“It’s a critical time for the country when many lives are lost, and students are the main stakeholders of this situation. We gathered on the streets to express solidarity with the students,” said filmmaker Piplu Khan.
“We want the state to sensitively listen to the demands of the students.”
Azmeri Haque Badhon, a popular Bangladeshi actress and co-organizer of the rally, said it was her responsibility to protest.
“The demands placed by the students are justified, and we expressed solidarity with them,” she told Arab News.
“We can’t tolerate that in an independent country piercing bullets would take the lives of children ... protesting students would face bullets in the streets for asking for their rights.”
