Solidarity amid unrest | The Daily Star

Recent protests surrounding the quota reform movement have been met with a wide response from various social groups.

People from all walks of life – including teachers, writers, farmers, workers, expatriates, development professionals and artists – expressed their support for the students and their deep shock at the recent violence that has resulted in scores of deaths and countless serious injuries.

For example, 626 faculty members of BRAC University expressed their solidarity in a press statement, emphasizing their commitment to a just, democratic and inclusive society and support for students’ right to peaceful protest.

They expressed deep concern about the torture and harassment of students and the disorganization of academic life.

In addition, leaders of eight teachers’ organizations appealed to students to resolve the problem through talks with the Prime Minister.

The appeal was made yesterday at a meeting held at the headquarters of the Independence Teachers’ Council, chaired by Principal Dr Shahjahan Alam Saju.

In addition, 51 teachers from Cumilla University expressed shock and serious concern over the killing of young students, calling for an end to the harassment, arrests and torture of students across the country. They also demanded justice for the deaths.

The Expatriate Unity Council, in a separate statement, expressed solidarity with the anti-discrimination student movement and its non-cooperation movement and called on everyone to support it.

They also called on army representatives to reject all government orders against citizens.

The thirty writers also demanded an impartial investigation into all killings related to the quota reform protests, an end to mass arrests and the immediate release of those detained.

They called for the curfew to be lifted, educational institutions to be reopened, harassment of students and the public to be stopped, compensation to the families of those killed, treatment for injured protesters and immediate response to the protesters’ demands.

They also called for a nationwide dialogue to resolve the crisis.

Bangladeshi representatives, Krishak Sangram Samiti, expressed solidarity with the students’ demands, highlighting the difficulties in gaining education and unemployment after graduation.

They condemned the government’s authoritarian response and called for the elimination of the entire authoritarian system in order to support the movement for the liberation of society.

Yesterday, under the slogan of “Alliance of Development Professionals for Freedom and Justice”, around a thousand development professionals from various organisations took part in a rally at the Justice Shahabuddin Park in Gulshan.

Rubaiyath Sarwar, a development expert and researcher, read out an official statement, firmly stating that state injustice and cruelty must end and the right of people to speak and write must prevail.

“Bangladesh cannot afford to lose any more citizens in the fight for democracy,” he added.

Various bands, solo musicians, lyricists and composers organised a ‘Get Up Stand Up’ event at Rabindra Sarobar in Dhanmondi to show solidarity with the student movement. The event was attended by over 5,000 people who later marched to the Central Shaheed Minar.

Musicians outside Dhaka also expressed solidarity by organizing similar events in their neighborhoods. Artists created banners and garlands with verses from Bengali songs that have historically inspired movements and protests.

Hamin Ahmed, current president of Bamba and a member of Miles, said: “We don’t want more shootings, we don’t want more arrests and we want a proper investigation into the lives of those who lost their lives.”