DHAKA — Pro-liberation students and citizens across Bangladesh must build mass resistance against ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her allies, a senior student leader said Tuesday.
Abu Sadik Kayem, central publications secretary of Islami Chhatra Shibir and vice president of the Dhaka University Central Students’ Union, made the call while joining the “Run With JnU Shibir” program organized by the Jagannath University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir.
“We must always remain vigilant against Hasina and her associates,” Kayem said. “The July uprising drove the allies of fascism out of Bangladesh. The Bangladesh of tomorrow will not be a home for Hasina and her banned Chhatra League and Jubo League. Their allies are still hiding. We must identify them all and bring them to justice.”
“We will catch them and hand them over to the police,” he said. “Hasina and her allies must be uprooted from Bangladesh. The banned Awami League and Chhatra League are a militant organization, and everyone must unite to resist them.”
On the Jagannath University Central Students’ Union election, Kayem said it appeared that “some divine revelation from above” had prompted the authorities to postpone the vote. “We urge the authorities not to act with bias,” he said. “We do not want a teacher-versus-student situation to develop.”
Speaking on physical fitness, Kayem said he had seen a festive atmosphere among students at Tuesday’s event. “If the young generation wants to do something for the country, they must stay physically fit,” he said. “Since its founding, Chhatra Shibir has run creative and positive programs of this kind, which were blocked under the fascist regime.”
More than 2,000 students joined the run, organized under the slogan “Let us walk together, let us build the country together.” It began at the university campus at about 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, passed through the court area, Ray Shaheb Bazar intersection and Dholaikhal, and ended at Dhupkhola field. According to the local Shibir unit, about 3,000 students had registered online to take part.
Sigbatullah Sigba, central office secretary of Shibir, said Bangladesh was in a deep crisis. “In this period only the young generation can save the country,” he said. “If our youth are aware and fit, no fascist or foreign hegemonic power can rise in Bangladesh.”
Riyazul Islam, president of the Jagannath University unit of Shibir, said the central theme of the program was “Let us walk together, let us build the country together.” “Without physical and mental health, nation building is not possible,” he said. “The enthusiasm of the students has inspired us.”
Sifat, an English department student who took part, said: “I did not imagine I would find such an atmosphere on campus so early in the morning. It was wonderful. Thanks to Chhatra Shibir at Jagannath University.”
Mohtasim Billah Shahidi, central international secretary of Shibir, said Jagannath University lacked adequate facilities for physical exercise. “The spontaneous participation of students today shows they want to stay physically fit,” he said. “We urge the university administration to quickly build the necessary infrastructure for physical exercise.”
Also present were former JnU Shibir president Maksudur Rahman, Asadul Islam, unit Secretary General Abdul Alim Arif, organizing secretary Mohammad Zahed and office secretary Ibrahim Khalil, among others.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report