The Democratic Rights Committee has strongly criticized the government, accusing it of repeatedly failing to protect the core values and spirit of the July Uprising of 2024.
The committee claims that instead of safeguarding citizens` democratic and civil rights, the government is struggling to ensure even the most basic security for people`s lives and property.
In a statement released on Sunday, March 2, Anu Muhammad, a member of the Democratic Rights Committee, expressed deep concerns about the current state of the nation.
The statement highlighted the rise in crimes such as murder, rape, mob violence, and even the threat of murder against prominent intellectuals, including top writers and professors.
Despite these threats being made publicly, no legal actions have been taken against the perpetrators.
The committee noted that there have been numerous reports of convicted criminals, including individuals sentenced to death in the Abrar murder case, escaping from prison.
They also mentioned an alarming incident in which unarmed civilians in Samiti Para, Cox’s Bazar, were allegedly shot at by the Air Force.
These issues, according to the committee, are a direct result of the government’s failure to uphold the principles that the July Uprising fought for.
University campuses were another area of concern for the committee. They voiced their alarm over the hostile treatment and violence directed at women.
One incident involved the expulsion of nine female students from the University of Chittagong for protesting against group violence.
The committee strongly condemned the behavior of the university’s proctor, describing it as "offensive" and suggesting that it signaled institutional support for sexual harassment.
Additionally, they expressed shock that a building on campus had been named after Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, an individual actively opposed to Bangladesh’s Liberation War.
The committee called for an immediate reversal of the decision and demanded the reinstatement of the female students.
The Democratic Rights Committee also criticized actions taken by Khulna University, where the names of several prominent scholars, scientists, philosophers, and poets had been removed from various buildings.
They expressed dismay that the contributions of figures such as Satyen Bose, Jagadish Chandra Bose, Jibanananda Das, Lalon Sai, Prafulla Chandra Ray, Jyotirmoy Guhathakurta, G C Dev, Dr. Alim Chowdhury, and Tajuddin Ahmad were being disregarded by the university’s administration.
The committee urged the administration to restore these names as a mark of respect.
Beyond the issues in the universities, the committee voiced concerns about the broader security situation in the country.
They criticized the army’s magistracy powers and the ongoing joint operations, suggesting that these have only served to increase harassment and extrajudicial killings, rather than ensuring public safety.
In its concluding remarks, the Democratic Rights Committee emphasized that the government must abandon its "culture of denial" and face the growing unrest head-on.
They urged the authorities to take decisive action against criminals and demonstrate a genuine commitment to protecting the democratic rights of the people.
The committee stated that if the government continues to neglect these issues, it will only further undermine the spirit of the July Uprising.
The statement was a clear call to action, urging both the government and the media to take a more active role in addressing the growing concerns across the country.
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