[🇧🇩] In Bangladesh, A Violent 'Student Revolution' is on بنگلہ دیش میں انقلاب

[Saif]

Who can provide more security than the family?

Questions Nahid's mother

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Who can provide more security than the family?
Questions Nahid's mother

Momtaz Nahar, mother of Nahid Islam, one of the key coordinators of quota reform protests, yesterday questioned the move by authorities of picking up the organisers one by one on the grounds of "providing security".

"Who can provide more security than the family?" she said replying to a query of a journalist at Minto Road when Nahid's family went to the DB office to see him.

However, they were not allowed to meet him, she said.

A day before, detectives picked up three organisers, including Nahid, from a city hospital and yesterday DB took more two organisers into their custody "to ensure their security".

"We came [here] to meet my son. But we were not allowed. DB did not allow us to enter the office. Not only us, even Nahid's teachers were not allowed to meet him. I want to see my son. He must be returned to me safely," Nahid's mother said.

"I have not been able to contact Nahid since he was picked up. He was picked up for a second time... This time from a hospital. Nahid's physical condition is not good. I want the release of all [quota protest coordinators], who have been detained, including my child," Momtaz said.​

 

[Saif]

The prolonged internet shutdown sets a dangerous precedent

It represents a grave threat to democracy and human rights that demands urgent attention.

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The prolonged internet shutdown sets a dangerous precedent

Visual: Anwar Sohel

The recent nationwide internet blackout in Bangladesh, beginning on July 18 and lasting over 150 hours, represents a grave threat to democracy and human rights that demands urgent attention. This unprecedented act of digital repression not only violated the fundamental rights of 170 million Bangladeshis but also set a dangerous precedent for authoritarian control in the digital age.

The shutdown occurred against a backdrop of mounting student protests, though the government initially attempted to obfuscate its role in the blackout. Officials, including ICT Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, first attributed the outage to security concerns, then to an arson attack on the cables in Mohakhali at nearby data centres by miscreants. Palak even suggested that broadband internet would be restored within a day. However, this explanation, or rather excuse, quickly crumbled under scrutiny. The truth, as confirmed by international observers like Cloudflare and Telenor, was that it was a deliberate, government-ordered shutdown.

Cloudflare, one of the world's largest cloud service companies, used global internet traffic monitoring tools to confirm that the blackout was indeed government-ordered. Telenor, the parent company of Grameenphone, corroborated this assessment, stating that local authorities had mandated the shutdown of 3G and 4G networks. The extent of the blackout is particularly troubling given Bangladesh's multiple internet connectivity options. The country has access to submarine cables through Bangladesh Submarine Cable Limited, land fibre connections through India, IIG VSAT connectivity for limited data links, and 3G/4G mobile networks. Put simply, the diverse infrastructure makes it implausible that a single localised issue could cause such widespread disruption, further supporting the assertion that this was a calculated move by authorities.

As internet access slowly returned after more than 150 hours, it came with draconian restrictions. Reportedly, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued guidelines to International Internet Gateways (IIGs) that included mandatory deep packet inspection by the Department of Telecommunications, blocking of Facebook and related services, disabling caches, and limiting access to specific areas and institutions. This calculated move to sever digital communications coincided with student protests, revealing the shutdown's true intent. By denying citizens access to social media platforms, messaging apps, and news websites, the government effectively silenced the nation and prevented the outside world from witnessing what was happening inside Bangladesh.

When governments impose internet shutdowns and restrictions, particularly during protests, they hinder the flow of vital information to citizens. This includes preventing people from contacting emergency services like fire departments and healthcare providers. Moreover, these shutdowns impede international and local media outlets, as well as human rights organisations, from documenting potential human rights violations. Such violations may include killings or excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies. By cutting off communication channels, authorities effectively create an information blackout that compromises public safety and accountability.

Interestingly, amid the nationwide blackout, reports emerged that Augmedix, a US-based healthcare multinational corporation, maintained active internet access. This selective availability raises questions about the government's priorities and potential preferential treatment of certain entities.

The shutdown, however, is part of a disturbing global trend. In 2022, there were over 180 internet shutdowns across 35 countries worldwide. Governments increasingly deploy this tactic to cover up grave human rights violations, including state violence against peaceful protesters, electoral interference, extrajudicial killings of political dissidents, and arbitrary arrests and detentions.

The UN Human Rights Council, via establishing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), has unequivocally stated that internet shutdowns have "indiscriminate and disproportionate impacts on human rights." In today's interconnected world, internet access is essential for the realisation of numerous fundamental rights, including freedom of expression and access to information, the right to education, the right to health, the right to work, and freedom of assembly and association. By imposing this blackout, the Bangladesh government has effectively violated these rights for its entire population, contravening its obligations under international human rights law.

The shutdown's impact extends beyond civil liberties. In an increasingly digital economy, such disruptions can have severe economic consequences. Businesses relying on online transactions, e-commerce platforms, and digital communication tools suffer significant losses. The global nonprofit organisation NetBlocks estimates that the 150-hour shutdown could have cost Bangladesh's economy over USD 500 million, further burdening a nation already grappling with economic challenges.

Moreover, the blackout jeopardised public safety and health. During times of crisis, access to timely information can be a matter of life and death. Recounting my personal experience, doctors were not available to see outdoor patients at Birdem Hospital due to the ongoing nationwide curfew. However, online consultation and public health information also became inaccessible due to the internet shutdown. By cutting off internet access, the government potentially hindered emergency services, disrupted healthcare communications, and prevented citizens from accessing crucial public health information.

We and the world must respond accordingly to this flagrant violation of digital rights. The United Nations should launch an investigation into the shutdown and its human rights implications. International and development partners should insist on respect for digital rights and internet freedom. Tech companies and telecom providers operating in Bangladesh should publicly disclose any requests for government orders to shut down services. Civil society organisations should document the impact of the shutdown on human rights, the economy, and public services to build a case for accountability.

And lastly, the Bangladesh government must provide a full, transparent explanation for the shutdown, and implement legal safeguards to prevent future arbitrary internet restrictions.

The fight for internet freedom is synonymous with the struggle for human rights and democracy.

Mahiya Tabassum is a journalist at The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

Denial and intimidation will not solve this crisis

Ensuring students’ safety should be a key priority

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Denial and intimidation will not solve this crisis
Ensuring students' safety is a key priority

VISUAL: STAR

We are dismayed at the law enforcement measures being taken by the government which, in an already volatile situation ensuing from the brutal crackdown on protesters, will only serve to intensify public distrust and fear. Let's focus on the way students are being dealt with, leaving aside the violence and destruction caused by groups taking advantage of their movement. According to media reports, police have picked up five key organisers of the quota reform protests. First, they detained Nahid Islam, Asif Mahmud, and Abu Baker Majumder from a city hospital on Friday afternoon; Nahid and Asif were undergoing treatment there after being picked up and tortured earlier. Then, on Saturday evening, detectives picked up Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah.

Meanwhile, police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) regarding the death of university student Abu Sayed which completely contradicts the widely circulated video footage of him being shot by police from a close range. The FIR accuses 2,000-3,000 unidentified men, including BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists, of the killing. It is incredible what lengths are being taken to distort the facts. The Amnesty International has independently verified the video footage using satellite images to geolocate the positions of Sayed and responsible police officers, and found that they were about 15 metres apart during the shooting. As seen in the video, Sayed posed no threat to the police. Yet they repeatedly shot him, leading to his death.

In addition to these intimidating and unlawful measures, we have also heard of various cases being filed against university students along with the arrests of thousands of other people, many associated with BNP and Jamaat. For example, according to a report published yesterday, police on July 21 sued 20 students of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, along with many unnamed people, for "demonstrating unlawfully" and "assaulting police".

If the government is trying to "normalise" the situation through such tactics, it is the wrong way to do it. No matter what kind of counter-narratives it creates, the government cannot ignore people's concerns about the unprecedented number of deaths centring on the quota reform movement. Instead of trying to mitigate the severe deficit of trust, of the students in particular, the government has decided to take the hardline once again. Picking up protest leaders while they are undergoing medical treatment is illegal, and will only serve to further corrode students' faith in its sincerity to solve the crisis and harm any prospect of dialogue with them. Similarly, denying the role of law enforcement and other security forces in the deaths of students and other people and arresting student protesters will further add fuel to the fire.

This is not the time to try to control the situation with fear, intimidation, and distortion of facts, nor will it be helpful. The government must immediately release the five student organisers and allow them to get treatment and home. It must ensure their safety and that of all other students, put a stop to legal harassment, and discard the FIR in question (and others that may follow) that deliberately falsifies truths. And it must own up to the fatal mistakes it has made and sincerely try to heal the deep wounds inflicted on the students and the public as a whole.​

 

[Saif]

The cost of crisis. Who will bear it?

Violence comes with a hefty price tag for the economy. Beyond the immediate death toll mostly in police shootings, the convulsion of violence that gripped Bangladesh in the middle of this month has left a debilitating impact on the economy.

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The cost of crisis. Who will bear it?

Streets around the capital of Dhaka wore a devastated look over the past week, with a spate of violence breaking out centring the quota reform movement, which significantly impeded economic activities and led to huge losses. PHOTO: STAR

Violence comes with a hefty price tag for the economy. Beyond the immediate death toll mostly in police shootings, the convulsion of violence that gripped Bangladesh in the middle of this month has left a debilitating impact on the economy.

The impact of violence amounts to direct and indirect costs as it disrupts economic activity, increases instability and erodes human productivity.

In Bangladesh, crushing quota protests and subsequent violence were met with a sudden curfew and a crippling internet shutdown.

During the spell of unrest, many lost their lives and many others became disabled while public assets were vandalised or went up in flames in arson attacks.

While the curfew stemmed the tide of violence, it came as another shock to the already fragile economy.

People have been unable to get access to their bank accounts or pre-pay their gas and electricity bills due to the internet outage.

Panic buying has been reported in Dhaka and other major cities, with supermarkets and other stores running low on essential goods.

Many businesses were simply unable to operate, from food delivery services and e-commerce to the nascent outsourcing sector. It also remains to be seen how the internet disruption has affected Bangladesh's garment sector, which accounts for about 85 percent of the country's exports.

Details of the economic damage are still emerging. Export orders may be diverted and inward remittances may slow.

"Some insiders worry that instability will see the country lose orders to competitors elsewhere in the region. The impact of the protests will place further stress on an economy that was already ailing," Pierre Prakash, programme director for Asia at the International Crisis Group, said in a report on July 25.

The Foreign Investors' Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimated that the economic cost of seven days climbed to $10 billion.

The burden of human and economic toll is becoming heavier. But who will bear the cost?

The families of the dead will fend for themselves. Those who were disabled in the mayhem will suffer for the rest of their lives.

To mend the public assets, the government will use taxpayers' money, which means a massive financial haemorrhage at a time when Bangladesh needs to avoid waste.

The government, hamstrung by the economic crisis, will have to pause development projects, which will take a huge toll on the economy in the future.

Md Shafiqul Islam, the owner of a printing shop, said he has to pay his workers regardless of losses. The man had to close his factory for about six days as violence convulsed the country.

As the protests turned deadly, the poor paid the price by spending more to buy essentials. Consumers were already struggling due to a rising trend of inflation for two years.

All costs of the man-made crisis will be passed down to ordinary people, especially the poor and marginalised groups, said Mustafa K Mujeri, a noted economist.

Historically, these groups are the worst sufferers of any crisis due to their limited coping capacity, said Mujeri, executive director of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development.

"So, the burden of the crisis is hitting them harshly," Mujeri said.

The internet blackout also affected the encashment of inward remittances through banks and mobile financial services, which may put a strain on the country's foreign exchange reserves.

The IT sector is slowly returning to normal after the resumption of the internet, but it is still facing slow internet speeds.

Restaurant owners are staring at mounting losses as they were already struggling to stay afloat after the devastating Bailey Road fire, said Bipu Chowdhury, joint organising secretary of the Bangladesh Restaurant Owners Association.

After some recovery in the five months since the blaze, restaurant sales fell by more than two-thirds in the space of two weeks this month.

Economic gloom has also clouded the garment industry, a time-sensitive sector.

"Any delay in shipments will hurt the sector," said Faruque Hassan, a former president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

During the pandemic, companies kept their manufacturing units open, but the unavailability of the internet stalled them. Besides, backward linkages were impacted and the supply chain was seriously disrupted. Some companies faced cancellations of orders and some were forced to send products by air.

Although the crisis now seems to be easing, its impact on exporters will linger for a month, because it has created a huge backlog of unfinished tasks.​

 

[Saif]

‘আন্দোলন চলবে’, সোমবার সারাদেশে বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের বিক্ষোভ

‘বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের সমন্বয়কদের তুলে নিয়ে ডিবি কার্যালয়ে জিম্মি করে অস্ত্রের মুখে স্ক্রিপ্টেড বিবৃতি দিয়ে ছাত্রসমাজের দাবিগুলোর প্রতি সরকার চরম ধৃষ্টতা প্রদর্শন করেছে।’

bangla.thedailystar.net

'আন্দোলন চলবে', সোমবার সারাদেশে বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের বিক্ষোভ
'বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের সমন্বয়কদের তুলে নিয়ে ডিবি কার্যালয়ে জিম্মি করে অস্ত্রের মুখে স্ক্রিপ্টেড বিবৃতি দিয়ে ছাত্রসমাজের দাবিগুলোর প্রতি সরকার চরম ধৃষ্টতা প্রদর্শন করেছে।'

কোটা সংস্কার আন্দোলনের দাবিতে গত ৭ জুলাই শাহবাগে শিক্ষার্থীদের অবস্থান। ছবি: পলাশ খান/স্টার

দাবি আদায় না হওয়া পর্যন্ত আন্দোলন চলবে উল্লেখ করে সারাদেশে সোমবার ছাত্র-জনতার বিক্ষোভ কর্মসূচি ও প্রতিবাদ সমাবেশ ঘোষণা করেছে বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলন।

আজ রোববার রাতে বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের সমন্বয়ক আব্দুল কাদেরের গণমাধ্যমে পাঠানো বার্তায় এ কর্মসূচির কথা জানানো হয়েছে।

এর আগে ডিবি কার্যালয়ে হেফাজতে থাকা আন্দোলনের ছয় সমন্বয়ক কর্মসূচি প্রত্যাহারের ঘোষণা দিয়েছিলেন।

পরে বাকি সমন্বয়কদের পক্ষ থেকে পাঠানো বিবৃতিতে বলা হয়, 'সরকারের নিরাপত্তা বাহিনীর গুলিতে ও ছাত্রলীগের আক্রমনে নিহত শত শত শহীদের আত্মত্যাগ তিরস্কার করে ডিবি কার্যালয়ে বন্দুকের নলের মুখে জিম্মি করে সমন্বয়কদের মাধ্যমে জোরপূর্বক স্ক্রিপ্টেড বিবৃতি আদায়ের তীব্র নিন্দা ও প্রতিবাদ জানাই। আমাদের দাবি আদায়ে আমরা অবিচল ছিলাম, রয়েছি এবং থাকব। প্রিয় দেশবাসী ও ছাত্রসমাজ, বিগত কয়েকদিন যাবৎ গণহত্যা, গণগ্রেপ্তারের পর সরকার এখন এক নতুন নাটকের সৃষ্টি করেছে। বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের সমন্বয়কদের তুলে নিয়ে ডিবি কার্যালয়ে জিম্মি করে অস্ত্রের মুখে স্ক্রিপ্টেড বিবৃতি দিয়ে, ছাত্রসমাজের দাবিগুলোর প্রতি সরকার চরম ধৃষ্টতা প্রদর্শন করেছে।'

'শুধু তাই নয়, সারাদেশে রাষ্ট্রীয় বাহিনী ও ছাত্রলীগ সন্ত্রাসীদের হাতে নিহত শহীদদের পরিবারকে হুমকি-ধমকি ও ভয়ভীতি দেখিয়ে, আর্মড ফোর্সকে ব্যবহার করে ঢাকায় এনে সরকার তাদের থেকে মিথ্যা জবানবন্দি নেওয়া ও সমস্ত দায় আন্দোলনকারীদের ওপর চাপিয়ে শহীদের রক্তের সঙ্গে তামাশা করেছে। আমরা দ্ব্যর্থহীন ভাষায় বলতে ভাই, জীবনের শেষনিশ্বাস পর্যন্ত ছাত্রসমাজ শহীদের রক্তের সঙ্গে বেইমানি করতে পারে না।'

বার্তায় আরও বলা হয়, 'দেশে কোটা সংস্কার আন্দোলনকে কেন্দ্র করে সরকার সাধারণ শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর নির্যাতনের স্ট্রিম রোলার চালিয়ে যাচ্ছে। ব্যাপক হত্যাযজ্ঞের পর সরকার সারাদেশে রেইড করে গণগ্রেপ্তার করেছে। হাজার হাজার মামলা ও গ্রেপ্তার করা হচ্ছে। জানালার পাশে পড়ার সময় কোমলমতি শিশু সামিরকে হেলিকপ্টার থেকে গুলি করে হত্যা করা হয়েছে। প্রাইভেট বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর স্মরণকালের সবচেয়ে বড় বর্বরোচিত হামলা চালানো হয়েছে। এমনকি স্কুল ও কলেজের কোমলমতি শিক্ষার্থীদের ওপর ন্যক্কারজনক হামলা চালিয়ে অসংখ্য শিক্ষার্থীকে আহত ও শহীদ করা হয়েছে। এই অবস্থায় আমরা কঠোর ভাষায় বলতে চাই, আমাদের দাবি আদায় না হওয়ার পূর্ব পর্যন্ত ছাত্রসমাজের আন্দোলন চলবে।'

'আগামীকাল সারাদেশে ছাত্র-জনতার বিক্ষোভ কর্মসূচি এবং প্রতিবাদ সমাবেশ। আমাদের দাবি আদায়ের সঙ্গে একাত্মতা ঘোষণা করতে বাংলাদেশের সব নাগরিককে অনুরোধ করছি', বলা হয় বার্তায়।

এর আগে ছয় সমন্বয়কের পক্ষে রেকর্ড করা এক ভিডিও বার্তায় রোববার লিখিত বক্তব্য পড়ে কর্মসূচি প্রত্যাহারের কথা জানান বৈষম্যবিরোধী ছাত্র আন্দোলনের অন্যতম সমন্বয়ক নাহিদ ইসলাম। লিখিত বক্তব্যে নাহিদ ছাড়াও সারজিস আলম, হাসনাত আবদুল্লাহ, আবু বাকের মজুমদার, আসিফ মাহমুদ, নুসরাত তাবাসসুমের সই ছিল।​

 

[Saif]

Mahmudur Rahman describes the situation in Bangladesh under Hasina's rule.

 

[Saif]

'Unprecedented deaths in a non-political protest'

Ainjibi Samaj lawyers demands probe into violence, slam wholesale arrests, remands

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'Unprecedented deaths in a non-political protest'
Ainjibi Samaj lawyers demands probe into violence, slam wholesale arrests, remands

Photo: Rashed Shumon/Star

Bangladesh has never seen so many deaths in a non-political movement like it saw in the recent violence over quota reform protests, said a group of lawyers today.

The lawyers under the banner of Ainjibi Samaj at a human chain held at Supreme Court premises said the right to assembly is enshrined in the constitution.

Saying government is violating the constitution in every step, they said opening fire at protesters is a criminal offence and all those responsible for the deaths should be tried.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer ZI Khan Panna pointed out that the students are being portrayed as 'criminals' by the government.

He said, "In 1971, students raised the first flag of the country at Dhaka University. It was the students who started the language movement in 1952 from Battala. Since the regime of Pakistan to the date, we have never seen so many students killed because of a totally non-political demand."

Criticising picking up people from home through block raids, Panna wanted to know under which law enforcers are doing so. Government in many steps dishonoured the country's constitution that was earned through supreme sacrifice of many people.

Criticising additional commissioner (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Harun Ar Rashid, Panna said the official will have to give explanation of detaining six coordinators of the students' quota reform protests violating direction of Appellate Division of Bangladesh Supreme Court.

He urged the lower court judges to follow the direction of Appellate Division.

Panna said everyone has to explain why people are being granted remand or being sent to the prison without even knowing their age after wholesale arrests.

Senior Supreme Court lawyer Sara Hossain expressed grief over those who were killed while protesting. She said, "We want to know why they (students and common people) died, how many died, where they died, and who killed them."

"Thousands of students and the general public were subjected to mass arrests. I heard yesterday that not a single person has been granted bail in the Dhaka court," she added.

Lawyer Jyotirmoy Barua demanded that every murder should be investigated and every person responsible should be brought to justice.​

 

[Saif]

Stop arrest, abduction of students

Over a hundred university teachers yesterday demanded that harassment of students by abduction and mass arrest be stopped, and they be released immediately.

www.thedailystar.net

Stop arrest, abduction of students
Over 100 univ teachers urge govt

Over a hundred university teachers yesterday demanded that harassment of students by abduction and mass arrest be stopped, and they be released immediately.

Expressing solidarity with the protesting students' demands, they also called upon the authorities concerned to reopen all universities right away.

They observed a one-minute silence in remembrance of those killed in what they termed "July massacre".

University Teachers Network, a platform of public and private university teachers, made the demands from a "Anti-Repression Teachers' Rally" at the foot of Aparajeyo Bangla at Dhaka University.

Prof Saeed Ferdous, of Jahangirnagar University's anthropology department, who presided over the rally, said the government is showing its two faces.

During the day, they are expressing grief over the deaths and offering compensation to the victims' families to get sympathy, but at night they abduct people and force people to issue statements to the media.

The government should stop this, he said, calling for an end to the abductions and killings.

He said the government is considering students their opponents, but they took to the streets to overhaul the country.

Students are making history by challenging the systematic repression at educational institutions by pro-government student bodies and the anarchy in the state and at educational institutions over the past five decades since independence, said Prof Ferdous.

"We support every demand of the students," he said.

Referring to pre-liberation era history, Prof Abdul Hasib Chowdhury, former president of Buet Teachers' Association, said in February 1969, Prof Shamsuzzoha embraced martyrdom while protecting students and now they have gathered here as his successors.

"Our students, who are fighting for their rights and against inequality, are the successors of freedom fighters," he said.

Prof Kamrul Hassan Mamun, of Dhaka University's physics department, said a professor from the University of California, after watching foreign media, expressed concern over the situation in Bangladesh. "But where are the teachers of our country? Why so a few teachers are here?

Nasir Uddin Ahmed, associate professor of Jagannath University's English department, criticised police for filing cases against students and urged the authorities to stop such practices. He also demanded reopening of universities so that students can return to studies.

Dhaka University teacher Rushad Faridi, BRAC University teacher Saimum Reza Talukder, Khulna University Prof Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, and Jahangirnagar University Prof Masud Imran, among others, spoke at the rally.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka University authorities yesterday urged law enforcement agencies and other concerned to ensure no innocent student is harassed over the recent violence.

The university administration has instructed students to report to the Proctor's Office if they face any harassment, said a press release.

Students will be provided with necessary assistance in such cases, it added.​

 

[Saif]

End mass arrests, arbitrary detention

Amnesty International yesterday urged Bangladesh to end mass arrests and arbitrary detention of student leaders and protesters.

www.thedailystar.net

End mass arrests, arbitrary detention
Amnesty urges Bangladesh govt

Amnesty International yesterday urged Bangladesh to end mass arrests and arbitrary detention of student leaders and protesters.

In a statement, Smriti Singh, regional director for South Asia at Amnesty International, made the call responding to reports of the arrest and detention of student leaders, protest participants, and members of opposition parties following the quota-reform protests, with over 9,000 arrests over the weekend in Bangladesh.

"The mass arrest and arbitrary detention of student protesters is a witch- hunt by the authorities to silence anyone who dares to challenge the government and is a tool to further perpetuate a climate of fear. Reports suggest that these arrests are entirely politically motivated, in retaliation for the exercise of human rights. It is essential that the Bangladeshi authorities respect people's rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," reads the statement.

"The authorities must ensure that any arrests comply with due process safeguards and are fully in accordance with international human rights law and standards, including but not limited to the right to a free and fair trial, the right to be informed of the reasons for arrest and the place of detention, and the right to be brought promptly before a judge, and to have access both to legal counsel and to their family.

"The authorities should ensure that peaceful activists are not prosecuted on trumped-up charges as punishment for participating in protests. Peaceful protest is not a crime, and this witch-hunt must end," said the rights body.​

 

[Saif]

Protesters take to streets again

Quota reform protesters yesterday staged demonstrations across the country, including in Dhaka and Chattogram cities, but law enforcers dispersed them at many places and detained at least 80.

www.thedailystar.net

Protesters take to streets again
Face obstruction from law enforcers; 80 detained; demo organisers reject call for nationwide mourning

A boy screams and shows his ID card to prove he is a student while being dragged away by police during a demonstration in front of Independent University in the capital's Dhanmondi-2 yesterday afternoon. The otherwise peaceful gathering was obstructed by law enforcers and several were detained from there. Photo: Star

Quota reform protesters yesterday staged demonstrations across the country, including in Dhaka and Chattogram cities, but law enforcers dispersed them at many places and detained at least 80.

Ruling party men also obstructed them from holding demonstrations in some places.

Students from different universities and colleges held the demonstrations to protest the "detention of six coordinators of the quota reform protest by the Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and forcing them to issue a statement on ending protests".

In Chattogram, police detained at least 10 students after breaking up a protest by some 100 students in Jamal Khan area yesterday afternoon.

Witnesses said university and college students gathered at Cheragi intersection around 3:00pm to hold a rally. A large number of police, BGB, APBn, and army personnel were deployed in the area.

Tension rose when 100-150 leaders and activists of the Jubo League and Chhatra League, led by Chattogram City Corporation ward-21 Councillor Saibal Das Sumon, reached the area and verbally abused the protesters.

university teachers gathered at the Aparajeyo Bangla in DU, during the Anti-Repression Teachers Rally organised by the University Teachers Network, where they called for an immediate end to the harassment and mass arrests of students. Photo: Star

At one stage, the Jubo League and Chhatra League men beat up two students and handed them over to police, who got them on to a prison van.

As some students attempted to free the detainees, police used truncheons.

Protesters then gathered near the Kadam Mubarak mosque and chanted slogans.

Around 4:00pm, police fired stun grenades and teargas canisters at them. Three cops and a journalist, videographer Abu Jabed of News 24 TV, were injured in the incident.

Another group of protesters threw brick chunks at police near Andarkilla Shahi Jame Masjid around 5:00pm, prompting law enforcers to fire rubber bullets and teargas at them.

Mostafizur Rahman, deputy commissioner (south) of Chattogram Metropolitan Police, said police took action as all gatherings and protests are banned during the pause in curfew.

In the capital, law enforcers yesterday detained at least 70 people from different areas.

police stationed near the capital's National Press Club to avert protesters, who had announced holding a programme there yesterday afternoon. Photo: Star

Abdul Kader, a coordinator of the quota reform protest, on Sunday night announced on social media that they would stage demonstrations in eight locations in the capital -- Science Lab, Gate-8 of North South University, Jatiya Press Club, BNS Centre in Uttara, Mirpur-10, ECB Chattar in Mirpur, Rampura, and Mohakhali.

Witnesses said several hundred protesters gathered near the ECB Chattar around noon. Police chased them around 1:00pm when they started chanting slogans.

Law enforcers detained at least 18 demonstrators there.

Police detained at least 10 protesters from Mirpur-10 intersection, 10 from in front of Star Kabab in Dhanmondi, two from Purana Paltan, six from Badda, and 10 from Uttara.

Seeking anonymity, two security staffers of a private university in Bashundhara Residential Area said, "Students were standing in front of gates 1, 2 and 5 of the university since 10:00am. Police detained at least 15 of them and got them on to three police vans until 1:30pm."

Students at Jahangirnagar University held a protest demanding unconditional release of the coordinators of the quota reform protest and the other detainees.

Several JU teachers expressed solidarity with the protesters.

Students disperse as sound grenades were lobbed at them by cops at the Cheragi Pahar Mor in the port city. The protesters had gathered there to press for their nine-point demand yesterday afternoon. Photo: Star

In Rajshahi, several hundred students of Rajshahi University blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway from 12:20pm to 1:00pm protesting the detention of the six coordinators of the quota reform movement.

They chanted slogans demanding justice for the deaths of the fellow students and those responsible for the deaths be held accountable.

At Barishal University, Chhatra League activists allegedly attacked protesters near the university's administrative building around 2:00pm, leaving at least 15 students injured.

Sujoy Subho, one of the injured, said some 40-50 Chhatra League men, armed with sticks, attacked students when they were discussing their next course of action.

Students of Government Brojomohun (BM) College held a protest in Barisal city's Nathullabad Central Bus Terminal area.

In Noakhali, students blocked the Dhaka-Noakhali highway in front of Noakhali Zilla School from 2:00pm for three hours.

In Thakurgaon, over 200 students took out a procession with black flags demanding justice for the recent killings of students.

In Mymensingh, police broke up a demonstration by students in the city's Firoz-Jahangir Chattar in the afternoon.

In Cumilla, pro-Awami League men, armed with sticks and iron rods, obstructed around 60 Comilla University students from moving towards the Dhaka-Chattogram highway.

The students later staged demonstrations in front of the university around 3:00pm.

In Sylhet, a group of students of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology staged a protest at the main entrance to the university at 3:00pm. They later took out a procession.

Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigosthi, a cultural platform, could not hold a protest rally in front of the Jatiya Press Club yesterday afternoon as the area was cordoned off by law enforcers.

Meanwhile, some coordinators of the quota reform protest yesterday rejected the government's call for nationwide mourning today for those killed in the recent violence.

They urged the students of all educational institutions and the general people to cover their face with red clothes and upload their photos online today instead.

The coordinators made the call in a press release, signed by Mahin Sarker, a coordinator of the Anti-discriminatory Student Movement. Copies of the release were sent to the media around 9:30pm.

"We would like to tell the government that no movement in the history of Bengal could be suppressed by firing at students. Immediately accept our nine-point demand and bring stability to the country," said the statement.

Their demands include an apology from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, and resignations of Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader, Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhoury, Law Minister Anisul Huq, State Minister for Information and Broadcasting Mohammad Ali Arafat, and State Minister for Post, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak.

As per the Saturday's decision by the government, the ongoing curfew in Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur and Narsingdi will be relaxed from 7:00am to 6:00pm today.​

 

[Saif]

Deaths in violence: Govt upgrades tally to 150

At least 150 people died so far in the recent violence over the quota reform protests, said a government report today

www.thedailystar.net

Deaths in violence: Govt upgrades tally to 150

Photo: Rashed Shumon/Star

At least 150 people died so far in the recent violence over the quota reform protests, said a government report today.

It was placed by Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan before the cabinet meeting held today.

Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain informed journalists of the development at a press conference after the cabinet meeting held at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) this afternoon.

Yesterday, the home minister said at least 147 people died during the violence.

According to The Daily Star database, at least 163 lives have been lost in the violence since July 16.

However, the death toll from the violence between agitators, law enforcers, Border Guard Bangladesh members, and ruling party activists, could be much higher as The Daily Star could not reach many hospitals, where dozens of critically injured patients were taken.

Also, many families reportedly collected the bodies of their loved ones from the scene, and this newspaper could not contact those families.

The Daily Star's count of the victims is based solely on hospital and police sources.

According to the Prothom Alo, at least 210 people died in the violence as of Sunday.​

 

[Saif]

Police must abide by court rulings on arrests and remand

Due process being ignored during ongoing nationwide crackdown

www.thedailystar.net

Police must abide by court rulings on arrests and remand
Due process being ignored during ongoing nationwide crackdown

VISUAL: STAR

Amid nationwide crackdowns in response to the recent violence centring the quota reform movement, we are alarmed by the reckless disregard for Supreme Court guidelines for arrests and remands. Reports published over the last few days paint a disturbing picture of how arrestees have been treated. Between July 18 and 28, some 8,914 people, including students and BNP and Jamaat men, have been arrested in 46 districts. In Dhaka alone, 2,764 people have been arrested. But as claimed by relatives and lawyers, many of the suspects were picked up by plain-clothes officers who did not identify themselves, and in many cases, the accused were not produced before court within the stipulated 24-hour period. Families of many students were left in the dark as their children were picked up and only learned of their whereabouts when they were produced before court days later. Many on remand were allegedly subjected to inhumane torture.

All these instances are blatant violations of the guidelines issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in 2016. According to the guidelines, law enforcement officials are obligated to identify themselves before arresting an individual and inform the next of kin within 12 hours. Moreover, arrests cannot be made in plainclothes, and the arrested must be allowed to contact their relatives and seek legal counsel.

It is worrying how due process is still being openly flouted by the law enforcement personnel. Former Ducsu Vice-President Nurul Haque Nur's wife Maria Nur told daily Samakal that those who picked him up from their home in the early hours of July 19 did not identify themselves, and produced him before a court after 39 hours of detention. During that time, he was physically tortured to the point where he was unable to walk by himself, as he told the court. BNP leaders Aminul Haque and Sultan Salauddin Tuku also complained of being tortured in remand.

The detention of the six quota reform coordinators by the Detective Branch (DB) of DMP is another case in point. They were all picked up between Friday and Sunday—"for the sake of their security," according to the DB—in a manner that legal experts called "unconstitutional"; two of them were even undergoing treatment at the time. Then there is the case of a minor—17-year-old student Hasnatul Islam Faiyaz—who was taken to court tied with ropes and placed on a seven-day remand, which was later cancelled. We can also talk about how police falsified facts in the First Information Report (FIR) on slain university student Abu Sayed, which completely contradicts widely circulated video footages, in an apparent bid to absolve themselves of responsibility.

These are just some of the more prominent cases highlighted by the media. We understand that the law enforcement authorities are operating with a sense of urgency to restore order in these volatile times—when six days of violence took at least 163 lives across the country, not to mention the damage caused to key public infrastructures. But this is also precisely why they must operate strictly within the bounds of the law, with utmost accountability for their actions, as restoring order may not be possible without restoring confidence about their integrity. In any case, violating law and citizens' rights in the name of law enforcement is totally unacceptable.

The Supreme Court guidelines were issued to prevent police excesses and ensure accountability. There is no scope for even an iota of oversight or violation in their activities. We, therefore, urge the law enforcement authorities to look into this matter urgently and ensure that anyone accused or arrested in connection with the recent violence is treated as per court guidelines and constitutional obligations.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh protests death toll rises to 213 as one more dies

One more critically injured person died on Sunday while undergoing treatment in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, taking the death toll from the recent violence during countrywide student protests to at least 213...

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh protests death toll rises to 213 as one more dies
Staff Correspondent 30 July, 2024, 00:00

One more critically injured person died on Sunday while undergoing treatment in Dhaka Medical College Hospital, taking the death toll from the recent violence during countrywide student protests to at least 213.

The victim, Babul Hawladar, 48, was admitted to the hospital on July 19 after he received a bullet in the throat during violence at the time of student movement for quota reform in government jobs.

Babul Hawladar, from Munshiganj, worked as a house painter. He was hit by the bullet in Rampura while he was returning from Jummah prayers, said his son Md Parvez.

Hospital sources said that 123 people, including 14 in the Intensive Care Unit, were undergoing treatment as of Monday noon for critical injuries received during the movement.

The New Age collected the number of deaths from only 12 hospitals in Dhaka city and some hospitals in 10 other districts, as many hospitals either declined to provide information or were unreachable regarding the number of casualties during the protests.

On Sunday, the government at last disclosed that 147 people, including common people, students, police, and ruling Awami League activists, were killed across the country in the violence.

The official death toll reached 150 on Monday, said cabinet secretary Md Mahbub Hossain in an update given to the cabinet.​

 

[Saif]

Why is the crisis being aggravated by indiscriminate imprisonments?

If the students did not carry out the violence and destruction, why are cases being filed against them?

en.prothomalo.com

Why is the crisis being aggravated by indiscriminate imprisonments?
Sohrab Hassan
Published: 28 Jul 2024, 08: 17

Arrested persons at the CMM court premises Dipu Malakar

On Thursday afternoon a 75-year-old gentleman telephoned to say when his cousin, a BNP man, couldn't be located, certain persons identifying themselves as DB police picked up the man's brother, nephews and brother-in-law. They were told that they would be released if the BNP man was handed over to them.

The gentleman who had telephoned me said that he was not in contact with his cousin. He was valiant freedom fighter and a retired college teacher. He was suffering from cancer. He had just returned from hospital from a chemotherapy session. One of his nephews was an SSC candidate and the other was a university student. As he had delayed in opening the door, the police had beaten up the house-help too. The entire family was engulfed in anxiety.

Another friend phoned Prothom Alo to say that a local teacher lived with her son and daughter in the Sonali Bank lane of East Rampura. Her daughter Labiba Jahan Oishi was a student of IER at Dhaka University. Her son had passed out of university but hadn't got a job as yet, he was unemployed.

When the police banged on their door Thursday afternoon, they were alarmed. The police broke down the door, entered and asked if her son has been in the movement, checked his body for any injuries or bullet wounds. Even though they could find nothing, the police took him away. They took away their mobile phones too though these had nothing to do with the movement.

Oishi's friends said she had nothing to do with the quota reform movement even through it spread from the university. She hadn't even made any significant statement in this regard on Facebook. The mother and daughter had moved into a relative's house, scared and mentally distraught.

There are thousands of families other than that of the 75-year-old freedom fighter or the school teacher, who are living in alarm and anxiety. They are worried about their own safety. It is not even possible for everyone to rush around between police station and court.

During the students' movement, clashes and violence had broken out in full swing in Badda, Rampura, Jatrabari, Uttara, Mirpur and Mohammedpur. There were violent clashes between the demonstrators and members of the police force. Most of those who had died or were injured had been hit by bullets.

A BBC Bangla video report regarding the police's arrest drive in Dhaka showed several prison vans arriving at the court area from all around the city at around 3:00 in the afternoon on Tuesday. Those inside were crying out, "We are innocent. We were not in the movement. We have been detained for nothing." They included students, workers, children and teenagers.

Men and women thronged around the police vans. Some were trying to get a glimpse of their relations in the vans. One of them said that his brother was a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver and had nothing to do with the movement. He had been standing on the roadside watching the chaos. He had been picked up on suspicion. Pictures had been taken by drone from above. They picked up anyone seen in the drone pictures.

Failing to protect state property they are now making arrests en masse. Nab those who committed sabotage. What could the objective be behind arresting children, adolescents, people who have suffered from strokes, innocent pedestrians and hard-working labourers?
Another woman said that the police had picked up her son-in-law from Matuail. He had been having a cup of tea with others at a roadside tea-stall. Everyone started running away upon seeing the police vehicle and he was caught. Another person said that his brother was caught because he was a BNP man, though he was not involved in any movement. He had been sleeping when he was picked up at night. A mother said, her 13-year-old boy was picked up. He would work in a garage.

More people are being arrested from areas in Dhaka where there had been more agitation and damage. There was no assessing who had been involved and who hadn't.

No one would have anything to say if those responsible for damaging state property were identified and brought before the law. But why should anyone be arrested or harassed simply because they were related to a leader of the opposition or because they were young in age?

According to Prothom Alo reports, the law enforcement is carrying out arrests and filing cases centering the agitation, attacks, damages, clashes and arson during the quota reform movement. According to reports received till Thursday, 525 cases have been filed in 51 cities and districts including Dhaka. Over the past 9 days (from 17 July to 25 July) the number of arrests have exceeded 5,500. From Wednesday night till Thursday afternoon around 1,100 persons were arrested around the country. In the capital city 451 were arrested.

It is the responsibility of the government to safeguard state property. There was no dearth of police, RAB, BGB personnel deployed in Dhaka city. Failing to protect state property they are now making arrests en masse. Nab those who committed sabotage. What could the objective be behind arresting children, adolescents, people who have suffered from strokes, innocent pedestrians and hard-working labourers?

Law minister Anisul Huq has given his word that no cases will be filed against the students who were in the movement. They will not be harassed. But now they are being targetted and cases are being filed against them. According to Prothom Alo reports, students have been accused in five more cases centering various programmes of the quota reform movement. The police has filed a case against 20 students of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University in capital. There are 15 students of Rajshahi University named in another case.

In Rupnagar police station of the capital, two cases has been filed against unnamed students of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology (BUBT) on charges of assaulting and injuring police and obstructing government duty. In the two cases, 1000 to 1500 unnamed persons have been charged, including students. Another case has been filed at the Ashulia police station in Dhaka against unnamed students of Jahangirnagar University.

The ministers say that the agitating students did not attack the various installations of the government, they did not carry out violence and destruction. They have been blaming BNP and Jamaat-Shibir for all the violence. If the students did not carry out the violence and destruction, why are cases being filed against them?

At the last moment of writing this column on Friday I learnt that the police have released the relatives of that BNP leader's brother. Let the others who have been arbitrarily arrested also be similarly released.

* Sohrab Hassan is joint editor of Prothom Alo and a poet​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh: Security Forces Target Unarmed Students

The Bangladeshi government has deployed the army against student protesters, imposed shoot-on-sight curfew orders, and shut down mobile data and internet services.

www.hrw.org

Bangladesh: Security Forces Target Unarmed Students
International Pressure Needed to Protect Rights with Army Deployed, Internet Shut Down

Anti-quota protestors and police are engaging in a clash in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on July 18, 2024. © 2024 Anik Rahman/NurPhoto via AP Photo

(New York) – The Bangladeshi government has deployed the army against student protesters, imposed shoot-on-sight curfew orders, and shut down mobile data and internet services, Human Rights Watch said today. These actions followed violent protests against excesses by security forces to quell a peaceful student protest campaign.

With more than 160 people killed, foreign governments should immediately call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her administration to end the use of excessive force against protesters and hold troops to account for human rights abuses.

"Bangladesh has been troubled for a long time due to unfettered security force abuses against anyone who opposes the Sheikh Hasina government, and we are witnessing that same playbook again, this time to attack unarmed student protesters," said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Now is the time for influential governments to press Sheikh Hasina to stop her forces from brutalizing students and other protesters."

In early July 2024, tens of thousands of university students began peacefully protesting after a High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh ruling restoring quotas in government jobs for various categories of people, particularly the 30 percent for descendants of those who had joined the war for independence of Bangladesh in 1971. Students contended that the quota for war veterans would unfairly benefit government supporters. On July 15, members of the Chhatra League (BCL), the student group affiliated with Prime Minister Hasina's Awami League Party, backed by police, attacked the protesters, killing six people.

Protests spread to several cities and universities across the country following the July 15 attack, leading to deadly clashes between protesters and the pro-government supporters and security forces, with hundreds killed or wounded. Security forces have used live ammunition, tear gas, stun grenades, rubber bullets, and shotgun pellets to disperse protesters. With the internet shut down, reliable information is difficult to get; Agence France-Presse said that police and hospitals had reported 163 deaths, but activists fear the number is much higher. "I have never seen such cruelty," a Dhaka resident who recently left the country told Human Rights Watch. "The security forces just kept on shooting. They were shooting at such young people. They even shot at bystanders if they tried to help protect the students."

Several journalists were injured when assaulted by security forces and Chhatra League supporters. The United Nations human rights chief, Volker Türk, called for restraint and said the "attacks on student protesters are particularly shocking and unacceptable."

Prime Minister Hasina, who won a fourth consecutive term after January elections that were not free or fair, had previously imposed and then withdrawn the quota. She has called for dialogue and promised an inquiry into the July 15 deaths. Educational institutions have been closed indefinitely. On July 21, the Supreme Court, hearing an appeal from the government, ruled to reduce the quota in government jobs, allocating 5 percent for descendants of independence war veterans and 2 percent for other categories.

However, students said that Sheikh Hasina has lost their trust following a statement that denounced the protesters as political traitors. The students responded by calling her an "autocrat."

On June 18, the Bangladeshi authorities imposed a nationwide internet shutdown, critically limiting communications, access to information, and ability to share reports of human rights abuses.

The junior telecommunications minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, confirmed the shutdown, citing concerns over the spread of "fake news." Bangladeshi media sites were unable to upload credible information, fueling dangerous rumours. "Bangladesh is in information darkness," one activist told Human Rights Watch.

The UN Human Rights Council had said in a 2016 consensus resolution that shutting the internet to intentionally prevent or disrupt access to or dissemination of information online violates international human rights law, and that all countries should refrain from and cease such measures.

Protests continued on July 19 and 20, with several people killed by security forces. After protesters stormed a jail in Narsingdi district and set fire to the state broadcaster's offices, the government issued curfew orders and deployed the military.

On July 22, a student leader declared a 48-hour halt to the protests, calling on the government to end the curfew, restore access to the internet, and stop targeting the student protesters.

The authorities have arrested hundreds of protest participants and organizers, and there are allegations of enforced disappearances and torture in custody. Reports trickling out of Bangladesh say that there is ongoing violence in several places where protesters, now joined by members of the political opposition, are clashing with members of the Chhatra League and security forces. Police have backed the Chhatra League attacks instead of arresting those who engaged in violence.

In a television interview, the information minister, Mohammad A. Arafat, reportedly said that the civil unrest could be quelled quickly, but the government was exercising restraint. "The government hasn't even used five percent of its total capability in this," he said. "If it does, it won't take half an hour. But the government is showing patience to avoid casualties."

The UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms prohibit the use of firearms except in cases of imminent threat of death or serious injury. The UN Human Rights Committee, which monitors compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, has stated that "firearms are not an appropriate tool for the policing of assemblies, and must never be used simply to disperse an assembly.… [A]ny use of firearms by law enforcement officials in the context of assemblies must be limited to targeted individuals in circumstances in which it is strictly necessary to confront an imminent threat of death or serious injury."

The 2020 UN guidance on "less-lethal weapons" in law enforcement says: "Multiple projectiles fired at the same time are inaccurate and, in general, their use cannot comply with the principles of necessity and proportionality. Metal pellets, such as those fired from shotguns, should never be used."

The authorities repeatedly deny that Bangladeshi security forces have committed serious human rights violations including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances, leading to a climate of impunity, Human Rights Watch said. Other governments, including the United Kingdom and the European Union, should place Bangladeshi security forces under increased scrutiny following the designation of human rights sanctions by the US government.

"Bangladeshi authorities have flouted international standards in the past and continue to do so during the ongoing protests," Ganguly said. "The Sheikh Hasina government should take immediate steps to end the crisis, rein in and punish security forces and her party supporters who have committed serious crimes, and protect the rights of protesting students."​