Coincidence or Targeted Murders and Attacks?

Since the beginning of December, 2024 multiple incidents have been reported through social media and by the students of Private Universities.

There were incidents about being threatened over phone, being attacked, being followed and about not feeling safe.

And in almost all of these incidents there are two common factors, first, the one’s who have been victims of these events were active protesters who took their stand and participated from the front line in the July Revolution, and second, most of the students who are facing these are students of Private universities.

Tajbir Hossain Shihan (December 12, 2024)

Situation worsened since 12 December, when Tajbir Hossain Shihan, a student of CSE dept. in East West University (EWU), was stabbed to death.

Surprisingly he was stabbed in front of Gazipur Kaliakoir Mouchak Police box, around 5 AM.

According to reports he was followed down by five unknown figures and later stabbed to death by them.

Shihan used to write frequently against India and their false propagandas, and was a Co-Ordinator of East West University during the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.

Shihan‍‍`s friends and other students had done a torch procession in Rampura, Banasree area seeking justice for their friend. 

Md. Wajed Shimanto (December 14, 2024)

Md. Wajed Shimanto was a student of CSE dept. in American International University of Bangladesh (AIUB).

He died on 14 December while he was undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical

He was also stabbed in Narayanganj by a small group of unknown people who the Police are claiming to be normal muggers.

The incident occurred early morning on December 12, around 6:00 AM, Near the Minnat Ali Mazar in Deobhog, almost at the same time when Shihan was stabbed at a separate location.

Shimanto was again a Co-Ordinator of AIUB during the July movement.

Sujana and Kabbo (December 16)

Sujana a student of Mirpur, Vashantek School and Kabbo a student of Adamjee Cantonment School went out of their homes on 16 December.

According to reports both of them were friends and had gone out together on Kabbo’s motorcycle.

Later that night Kabbo’s mother Sonia Rashid posted on social media from her Facebook profile that Kabbo had been Kidnapped.

On the morning of 17 December, Sujana’s body was found in Purbachal lake,

And on the morning of 18 December, Kabbo’s body was found in that same lake.

Both of them took part in the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.

Jashim Uddin and Ibrahim Hossain Rifat (December 18, 2024)

Jashim Uddin was a student of Chittagong University and one of the main leaders of the students protests in Chittagong during the July uprising.

Jashim was beheaded by some unknown attackers on 18 December. 

In Munshiganj, a brutal attack was carried out on Ibrahim Hossain Rifat, a key coordinator of the anti-discrimination student movement.

Two assailants severed the veins of his hand and attempted to shoot him dead. According to reports, the attackers fled the scene upon noticing the presence of local residents.

Rifat was immediately taken to Suhrawardy Hospital for treatment.

Abdullah As Sakib (December 19, 2024)

Abdullah As Sakib is a student of Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP).

He was one of leaders of BUP in the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.

His house was under attack by a group of people, at that time Sakib was not present in his home, the attackers left but ran havoc in his house and wounded his uncle.

Many are claiming that these are not only mere accidents or incidents that are happening coincidentally, rather these are planned and targeted attacks and murders.

The two common factors somehow connect all the events and indicates that a bigger conspiracy is at place.

Some are blaming members of Awami League and BSL for these attacks while others are pointing their fingers towards India and Indian spy agency.

Farhan Hasan Borno, a representative of Anti-Discrimination Students Movement, who is also an activist from University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) and was a coordinator during the students movements in July has spoken to TheReport.live and expressed his disappointment at the Interim Government and said,

“This is the failure of  our Home Adviser and Interim Government because after the revolution in these four months they failed to take any strong actions. Because those who were against this revolution and attacked and harmed the protesting students are still on the loose. And after four months have passed when they saw that the government is not taking any actions against them, they have again come out from shades and are planning and executing these attacks.”  

When asked why particularly Private University students were being targeted, Borno explained,

“When on 16 July, Dhaka University halls were declared closed and when many students of the Public Universities went to their home districts, it was the Private University students who took the revolution forward and kept it alive in the capital. ULAB, BRACU, NSU, AUST, BUP, AIUB, EWU, UIU and other private university students were a force to reckon and are a very big part behind the success of the movement. And that’s why the followers of the Fascist Regime Awami League and their members of different wings held a grudge against private university students and that’s why they are now targeting and executing the attacks.”

He also said, “As per my doubts Awami League is not doing this alone, they are being backed up by India and Indian spies also have a role to play in these planned attacks and murders.”

Borno holds Awami League, its different wings and Indian spies responsible for these series of events.

And also stated that he wishes for justice and a proper investigation into this matter which is of grave concern.

Also, a post from Asif Ahmed Sarker former councilor of ward 33, Dhaka somehow solidifies the claims of Borno even more, where he put a picture of one of the protesters from Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area and has stated that he is looking for him and threatened to harm him.

But is that it? Why are these students being targeted and what is the greater interest behind these attacks?

The law enforcement department as well as the Interim Government and leaders of the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement should find answers to these questions and do a detailed investigation on these series of incidents that have happened one after another and in an order.

As one major factor is common between all of these events, all of the victims were some ways or the other connected to the July revolution and took part from their respective institutions in the Anti-Discrimination Students Movement.

 It is the responsibility of the Interim Government, Law and Enforcement Officials and the Leaders of the movement Sarjis, Hasnat, Nahid, Asif to provide protection to these students without whose help the revolution could never have been a success.

A thorough investigation is needed in order to find answers to questions such as Why are these series of incidents happening with students? Who are responsible for these? Is the nation failing to protect its warriors? Are the murders connected? Is there a greater interest being served behind this conspiracy?

 The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect TheReport.live’s editorial stance. The author is a journalist at TheReport.live .