Former student leaders Ariful Islam and Souvik Karim Arjun were remembered on Friday, marking two years since their deaths in what activists described as a 鈥榮tructural killing鈥� caused by systemic road mismanagement in Bangladesh.
Members of the Bangladesh Chhatra Federation and Gonoshonghoti Andolon paid tribute to the two activists, who were killed in a road crash on New Eskaton Road in Dhaka on November 7, 2023.
Chhatra Federation president Mashiur Rahman Khan Richard and general secretary Saikat Arif placed floral wreaths and joined prayers at Azimpur Graveyard in the capital on Friday morning while, student leaders, cultural activists and members of social movements accompanied them.
Later in the day, the Chhatra Federation organised a human chain on New Eskaton Road, demanding effective steps to prevent what it called 鈥榮tructural killings鈥� on the country鈥檚 roads.
鈥楨very year countless people die on the roads. These are not mere accidents鈥攖hey are structural killings鈥�, said Chhatra Federation president Richard, urging stronger enforcement of traffic laws, proper licensing, and accountability for transport owners and regulators.
Ariful Islam, a former Chhatra Federation central president and key organiser of Gonoshonghoti Andolon, was also active in Bangladesh鈥檚 creative publishing sector.
Souvik Karim Arjun, former assistant general secretary of Chhatra Federation鈥檚 Dhaka University unit, worked in teaching and research and was deeply involved in music and cultural movements.
