Attack on National Minority Students: Investigation Progressing Slowly as Protests Continue Across Bangladesh

Police Struggles to Make Progress in Investigation of Attacks on National Minority Students as Protests Continue

The police have made little progress in their investigation into the recent attacks on national minority students who were demonstrating for the inclusion of the term "Adivasi" in textbooks. As of Sunday, protests continued for the fifth consecutive day in various parts of Bangladesh.

Only two arrests have been made so far, following the filing of a case against 16 named individuals and 200-300 unnamed suspects in connection with the attacks on students and their supporters in Dhaka on January 15. These individuals were protesting under the banner of Sangkhubdhho Adivasi Chhatra-Janata (Aggrieved Indigenous Students and People) for the reinstatement of "Adivasi" in the textbooks. The protest leaders plan to meet with like-minded organizations today to discuss their next steps, according to Alik Mree, one of the organizers.

“We have had no discussions with the government regarding our demands to restore the term 'Adivasi' in textbooks, our constitutional recognition, and immediate action against the attackers,” Mree said on Sunday. “If our demands are not met, we will escalate our movement.” Protests were also held in Pabna and Rajshahi on the same day.

The National Curriculum and Textbook Board recently removed the term "Adivasi" from the back cover of the Class IX-X Bengali grammar textbook, following a demand by the group Students for Sovereignty. The removal sparked a wave of protests, including two attacks on demonstrators in front of the NCTB building on January 15, which resulted in injuries to more than a dozen, mostly students. The police were present during the attacks but did not intervene.

On January 16, at least seven people, including students, were injured when police intervened during a rally in Dhaka protesting the earlier violence.

A case has been filed with Motijheel police, naming 16 people involved in the January 15 attacks, and two arrests were made on the same night. The arrested individuals, Arif Al Khabir (38) and Md Abbas (24), are currently in jail custody. Motijheel police officer-in-charge, Mesbah Uddin, stated that no further arrests have been made but efforts to apprehend the remaining perpetrators are ongoing. The police have sought remand for the two arrested suspects, although the hearing is yet to take place.

Among the named suspects are Dhaka University law student Md Ziaul Haque, criminology student Mohiuddin Rahat, physics student Md Yakub Mozumder, and Shahadat Farazi Sakib, who was dismissed from the Jatiya Nagorik Committee on January 16 for his involvement in the attacks.

A rally organized by politicians, academics, national minority leaders, and professionals under the banner of Bikhubdhho Nagorik Samaj took place in front of the National Press Club on Sunday to condemn the attacks. Dipayan Khisa, one of the organizers, presented five key demands, including the arrest and exemplary punishment of the attackers, medical treatment for the injured, and the inclusion of national minority history in textbooks.

Saiful Huq, general secretary of the Revolutionary Workers Party, stated that the interim government could not escape responsibility for the attack. Communist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Ruhin Hossain Prince accused the current government of undermining the spirit of the July uprising. Gonoforum presidium member Subrata Chowdhury urged the government to restore peace in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and to honor the values of the July uprising to build a discrimination-free Bangladesh.

The rally was chaired by Dhaka University professor Robaet Ferdous and included speeches from Socialist Party of Bangladesh general secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz, Oikya NAP acting president ASMA Sabur, Manusher Jonno Foundation executive director Shaheen Anam, and other prominent figures.

Meanwhile, a group of Dhaka University law students staged a protest near the proctor's office on Sunday, calling for action against those responsible for the January 16 attack on their fellow students.

In a statement issued by Network for Democratic Bangladesh, 181 citizens condemned both the attacks on national minority protesters and the removal of "Adivasi" from the textbooks. They demanded constitutional recognition of national minorities and the restoration of the term in textbooks. The statement also included calls for immediate arrests of the attackers, accountability for police actions, and a public apology from the NCTB chairman.

The statement was signed by prominent individuals, including economist and editor Anu Muhammad, Grand Valley State University professor Azfar Hossain, and Dhaka University professors Qamrul Hasan Mamun and Moshahida Sultana, among others.

On Sunday, Samajik Protirodh Committee issued a statement condemning the attacks, while the women’s rights organization Naripokkho expressed concern and called for a fair and speedy trial, the restoration of "Adivasi" in textbooks, and collective efforts to prevent future violence.