January 16, 2025
DHAKA – At least 20 persons were injured yesterday in an attack on an indigenous group and its supporters protesting the removal of a graffiti from textbooks featuring the word “indigenous” (adivasi, in Bangla).
The attack was allegedly carried out by a group identifying themselves as “Students for Sovereignty” in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board office in Motijheel.
The attack ensued when some indigenous people and their supporters under the banner, Aggrieved Indigenous Student-Masses, went to the NCTB office to hold a scheduled programme.
The injured include Rupaiya Shrestha Tanchangya, 24, a central leader of the Students Against Discrimination platform; Isaba Suhrat, 25; Rengiyong Mro, 27; Don Jetra; Futonto Chakma, 22; Dhanojatra, 28; Anonto Dhamay, 35; DBC journalist Jewel Marak, 35; Shaily, 27; Donoai Mro, 24; Tanichirang, 30; Toni Chiran; Rahee Nayab and more.
Critically injured — Rupaiya, Don, and Jewel — were taken to Bangladesh Specialized Hospital from Dhaka Medical College Hospital for advanced treatment.
Rupaiya required 12 stitches on her head, while both of Don’s arms were fractured in the attack.
Footage from the scene shows Rupaiya bleeding profusely from her head and lying on the ground as attackers surrounded her, repeatedly striking her with cricket stumps and sticks.
Witnesses said Don sustained his injuries while trying to shield her from the assault.
The indigenous group first announced to hold their programme in from of the NCTB office.
In response, the Students for Sovereignty also decided to lay siege to the office at the same time.
HOW IT HAPPENED?
According to witnesses, the indigenous group went to the NCTB office around noon.
Meanwhile, members of the Students for Sovereignty, carrying cricket stumps with national flags tied to them, had already taken position in front of the office. At one point, they swooped on the indigenous group, leaving over a dozen injured.
Rahee Nayab, one of the injured, alleged that the attackers chanted slogans like “Tumi ke, ami ke? Bangalee, Bangalee” (Who are you, who am I? Bangalee, Bangalee) and “Naraye Takbeer, Allahu Akbar” during the assault.
Shaily, another injured, said the attackers particularly targeted women.
Witnesses corroborate these accounts, saying the violence could have been avoided had law enforcers acted decisively.
Alik Mree, one of the organisers of the Aggrieved Indigenous Student-Masses, alleged, “We were leading a peaceful march when the Students for Sovereignty group attacked us in front of the police.”
Yaqub Mazumder, joint convener of Students for Sovereignty, denied the allegations. “We were inside the NCTB office when the incident began. When we came out, we found our activists injured. We immediately calmed the situation,” he claimed.
However, Shahadat Hossain Kifat, a journalist present at the spot, said, “They put bandages on their bare heads and applied viodin (ointment) over them to make it appear as blood.”
When asked, Yaqub denied the allegations.
Md Shahriar Ali, deputy commissioner (Motijheel division) of police, said law enforcers present there intervened when one group suddenly attacked the other.
Sub-inspector Alimul Islam of Motijheel Police Station told The Daily Star last night that two people have been taken into custody for interrogation. They are being questioned now.
No case has been filed as of yet, he said.
Meanwhile, Aggrieved Indigenous Student-Masses announced to lay siege to the state guest house Jamuna, the residence of Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, tomorrow, protesting the attack.
WHO ARE ‘STUDENTS FOR SOVEREIGNTY’
The group was formed on August 28, 2024.
In their Facebook bio, it wrote, “The popular platform for Dhaka University students, ‘Students for Sovereignty,’ is dedicated to upholding the sovereignty of the nation. InshaAllah!”
On the same day, they organised a protest rally in response to a speech by Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, where he used the term “Adivasi” to refer to the indigenous community.
The group claimed that indigenous communities should be referred to as “Upojati” and “Khudro Nrigoshti” (small ethnic communities).
On September 20, they held a rally at Dhaka University, demanding an increase in number of army camps in the Chattogram Hill Tracts (CHT) and the removal of “unconstitutional sections” from the CHT Peace Treaty, among other demands.
During a demonstration on September 24, last year, they called for the removal of the “Upojati quota,” a reservation system for indigenous students in university entrance exams.
The group also organised protests on various issues – demanding removal of travel restrictions to St Martin’s Island, justice for the killing of a Muslim lawyer at the Chattogram court, the capital punishment and dismissal of a DU teacher over alleged blasphemy, the protection of hijab and veil rights, stop killings of Bangladeshis by BSF forces and against the “live-together culture”.
Recently, the term “Adivasi” was removed from the covers of textbooks for classes 9 and 10 after the group demonstrated in front of NCTB.
Md Ziaul Haque, a former student of DU, is known to lead the group. At least two leaders of Jatiya Nagorik Committee and several others alleged that he has family ties with a leader of the Shariatpur unit of Awami League.
Meanwhile, names of two other DU-based organisations — “Parbatya Chattogram Chhatra Sangsad” and “Parbattya Chattogram Chhatra Parishad” — came to the fore following yesterday’s attack.
These correspondents have obtained screenshots showing the “Parbatya Chattogram Chhatra Sangsad” page promoting the “Students for Sovereignty” siege of the NCTB office.
An hour before the attack, the group shared a Facebook live stream showing several individuals with cricket stumps and national flag taking positions in front of the NCTB office.
All these posts were deleted following the attack.
In previous posts, PCCS claimed that recognising the ethnic communities in the CHT as “indigenous” would lead to the separation of the CHT from Bangladesh.
Notably, Md Abu Shadik, the former president of the Chhatra Shibir’s DU wing, was also a former president of “Parbatya Chattogram Chhatra Sangsad” before revealing his affiliation with Shibir.
Similarly, SM Farhad, the current president of the DU Shibir wing, previously held a leadership role in “Parbatya Chattogram Chhatra Sangsad”.
These associations have led many to allege that Shibir activists are running both the organisations.
Armanul Hoque, president of the Chhatra Federation’s DU wing, said after the attack, “Shibir, under the guise of ‘Students for Sovereignty,’ attacked the students today.”
In a Facebook post, Shadik denied the allegations against Shibir.
“We demand immediate punishment for the attackers,” he added.
On the other hand, Shahadat Farazi Sakib, a leader of Nagorik Commitee’s Dhanmondi wing, is the founding president of Parbattya Chattogram Chhatra Parishad.
On Tuesday, he shared the NCTB siege programme of ‘Students’ For Sovereignty’ on his Facebook wall, and urged his followers to join.
Many of the victims have said that he was present at the time of the attack.
The Daily Star could not reach him as his phone was switched off.
However, he posted on Facebook, “At least 14 general students were injured when Upojati miscreants and leftists attacked us when we were protesting inclusion of the controversial and anti-national word ‘Adivasi’ on textbooks. Some of them have been admitted to Pan Pacific Hospital in critical conditions.”
Contacted, Samanta Shermeen, spokesperson of Jatiya Nagorik Commitee, said, “We have received allegations against Sakib. We would form a probe body. If allegations are true, we will take necessary actions as per protocol.”