Eminent citizens condemn attack

Fifty eminent citizens yesterday expressed deep concern over the series of assault and harassment of students -- demanding public service-quota reformation -- and their teachers and guardians reportedly carried out by Chhatra League under the refuge of law enforcers.

Issuing a joint statement, the citizens said such attacks on the students who were demonstrating peacefully to press home their logical demand were “inhumane, condemnable, illegal and against the basic rights conferred by the country's constitution”.

They demanded bringing the attackers to justice and withdrawal of cases filed against the students.

Expressing frustration at the role of the law enforcing agencies during the attacks, they also urged the agencies' members to perform their duty properly instead of favouring and protecting the attackers.

“The inactive role played by the law enforcement agencies during the peaceful demonstration of the students was a sheer violation of the responsibility bestowed on them [the lawmen],” the statement said.

Hindering treatment of the injured students, filing cases against them and detaining them as well as attacking their guardians, during a protest on Tuesday, by policemen have created an anarchical situation, the statement added.

Demanding immediate measures to reform the present quota system involving government jobs, they said specific actions in this regard can solve the ongoing crisis.

The citizens include: Dhaka University (DU) Professor Emeritus Serajul Islam Choudhury; Gonoshasthya Kendra Founder Zafrullah Chowdhury; noted academic Rasheda K Chowdhury; noted writer and columnist Syed Abul Maksud; Shujan's President M Hafiz Uddin Khan and General Secretary Badiul Alam Majumdar; eminent jurist Dr Shahdeen Malik; TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman; eminent rights activists Hameeda Hossain, Khushi Kabir, Shaheen Anam, Farah Kabir and Barrister Sara Hossain; DU Professor CR Abrar and Honorary Professor Dr Ahmed Kamal; researcher Meghna Guhathakurta and green activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan.