On World Human Rights Day, the Jagannath University (JnU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (BNP’s student wing) formed a human chain demanding the whereabouts of three JnU Chhatra Dal leaders who were abducted on 4 December 2013 during the Awami League government.
The programme was held in front of the university’s main gate at 1pm on Wednesday, where the teachers’ association also participated in solidarity.
During the human chain, student and teacher leaders demanded the whereabouts of all the abducted activists and citizens, including the three missing leaders: Majharul Islam Russell, Asaduzzaman Rana and Al-Amin. They also called for effective action from the judiciary against torture, attacks, and killings carried out by the Awami League.
At the event, Khadijatul Kubra, joint convenor of JnU Chhatra Dal and GS candidate from the Chhatra Dal backed panel in JnUCSU, said, “Today is 10 December, International Human Rights Day. Many people were disappeared during the past fascist regime. How many more demands for justice will we make? In an independent country, we are standing here in search of our brothers. We want a country where no one goes missing and everyone gets fair justice.”
Mehedi Hasan Himel, convenor of the JnU Chhatra Dal, said, “During the fascist era, many BNP leaders were victims of enforced disappearance and murder. Many students were attacked by Chhatra League. Many of our brothers went missing. By the mercy of Allah, some have returned. But we still haven’t found our three JnU Chhatra Dal brothers. Many of our leaders were shot and attacked in past movements. For 17 long years, we have fought facing death. We demand justice for those involved in enforced disappearances and killings. We stand in solidarity with those who have been persecuted. JnU Chhatra Dal will remain active in all upcoming democratic movements.”
At the program, Professor Dr Rois Uddin, general secretary of the Teachers’ Association, said, “During the past fascist era, enforced disappearance and killing became common words. Even after July, we still have not found many of those who disappeared. The three JnU Chhatra Dal leaders, my cousin Ilias Ali, and many others are on that list. Every year, 10 December comes, we form a human chain, demand their whereabouts, remember them and then the next day, everyone forgets. What is the condition of their families now, do we even know? We want the university administration to form an investigation committee regarding the disappearance of our campus students.”
Teachers’ Association President Mosharraf Hossain said, “Investigation committees have been formed at different university campuses where students went missing. Sadly, no such committee has been formed at our university. On this day, I call upon the authorities to form a committee to investigate the enforced disappearance of those from our own campus.”
