46 Eminent citizen of the country on Wednesday expressed their concern over the incident of vandalism and looting at the offices of the Bangladesh Students’ Union and the Socialist Students Front at Bangladesh Agricultural University.
A joint statement signed by teachers, journalists, lawyers, writers, filmmakers, and other prominent citizens has been released regarding this incident.
The statement says that attacking and vandalising the office of any organisation or institution, or physically assaulting anyone, is a manifestation of intolerance and undemocratic attitude.
‘Mob justice’ and ‘cancel culture’ are not characteristics of a democratic culture. Hundreds of students and people sacrificed their lives in this movement to establish the right to freedom of expression. In this ‘new Bangladesh’, interfering with freedom of expression or suppressing dissenting opinions goes against the very spirit of this movement,’ the statement reads.
Warning the students about the conspiracy of defeated force, the joint statement says, ‘representatives of defeated fascism are masquerading as ordinary students to implement their own agendas.’
‘Be aware of them and maintain a democratic environment and mutual harmony in your educational institutions and communities.’ It reads more.
The joint statement was signed by Anu Muhammad, former professor, Jahangirnagar University; Professor Gitiara Nasreen, department of mass communication and journalism, Dhaka University; Amitabh Reza Chowdhury, filmmaker, A-Al Mamun, professor, department of mass communication and journalism, Rajshahi University; Bidhan Rebeiru, writer and journalist; Ferdous Ara Rumee, human rights activist; Samina Luthfa, department of sociology, Dhaka University; Manosh Chowdhury, department of anthropology, Jahangirnagar University, and others.
Earlier on Tuesday, a group of unruly people vandalised and attacked the offices of Bangladesh Chhatra Union, and the Socialist Students Front at Bangladesh Agricultural University following a dispute over wall writings.
