18/07/2024
The members of the IEEE Robotics and Automation Society under the IEEE Student Branch University of Dhaka (STB17061, Region: R-10), along with all of its affiliated groups and student branch chapters condemn the actions and violence inflicted upon the student bodies of multiple public and private universities, schools and colleges across the country by the police force and Bangladesh Student League. We hereby cut all ties with the latter, and wish to remain unaffiliated in the future due to the course of actions they have taken.
Until the students are given what they demand for on official terms, we will remain closed off and in support of the quota reform protest until the end. We do not stand for the inhuman torture they have inflicted upon our brothers and sisters, their very own who they were supposed to protect.
The students have been peacefully protesting for a quota reform in the civil service job sector (56% reserved in total, with 30% belonging to children and grandchildren of 1971 freedom fighters). In order for merit to win the majority of seats, the students have taken to the roads and streets to peacefully demand their conditions be fulfilled. However, they have not been met in kind.
The movement started in 2018; even then the student bodies were heavily repressed and faced a crackdown. Ultimately, the entire quota business was scrapped. But earlier this month (July, 2024), the High Court declared the government’s decision that the quota scrapping is illegal. The students once again took to the streets.
Things took a darker turn from the 15th of July, as multiple reports of police-led violence against students came in.
Several university campuses have become a battleground for them, as police fired at the unarmed and unaggressive students and attacked them with sound grenades and tear shells. Bangladesh Student League members also attacked with batons, hockey sticks, blades and other deadly weapons. Amidst all this, they, along with active members of Bangladesh Student League (BSL or Bangladesh Chhatro League) are to blame for the injuries of an uncountable number of students, as well as those who were martyred.
Picture credit: Debashish Chakrabarty
https://www.facebook.com/debshishchakrabarty/
