During a protest rally organized by the U.S. branch of Chhatra Dal in New York, demands were made to uncover the motive behind the murder of Shahriar Alam Samya, a leader of the Chhatra Dal unit at Dhaka University. Protesters also condemned the extreme negligence in arresting those responsible. The protest, moderated by Suman Khan, was held on the evening of Friday, May 16, at Diversity Plaza in Jackson Heights.
As the chief guest, Giyas Ahmed—a member of the BNP’s central executive committee—said that after 16 years of bloody struggle, the people had expected that the interim government formed on August 8 would put an end to political killings and establish the rule of law. However, even after eight and a half months, those hopes have not materialized. Public safety remains elusive.
Former central leader of the Jubo Dal, M.A. Batin, who was a special guest, remarked, “After the fall of fascist Sheikh Hasina, we had hoped for the establishment of rule of law in Bangladesh. We believed they could deliver a terrorism-free Bangladesh and secure people’s right to vote. But now, actions by the government led by Yunus have raised serious doubts.” Batin further alleged that press freedom in Bangladesh is now under question, which is why peaceful student leaders like Samya are being targeted.
Mazharul Islam Johnny, President of U.S. Chhatra Dal, also spoke at the rally and claimed that those who were at the forefront of the anti-discrimination student movement are being systematically targeted. Johnny added passionately that Chhatra Shibir has long been an adversary of Chhatra Dal, having killed many of its student leaders. He accused Shibir of infiltrating Chhatra League and attacking Chhatra Dal activists during pro-democracy movements in recent years. According to Johnny, “It is as clear as daylight that no Shibir members were seen during the anti-discrimination student movement.” He demanded the identification and exemplary punishment of those who supported Samya’s murder. “Otherwise,” he warned, “a relentless movement will wash away all injustice.”
Other speakers at the event included Engineer Sayem Rahman (convener of JASAS), BNP leader Neera Rabbani, Dewan Kawsar, and Shahadat Hossain Raju (President of the Arafat Rahman Koko Memorial Council), among others.
Samya, the literary and publication secretary of the Chhatra Dal unit at Sir A.F. Rahman Hall in Dhaka University, was stabbed to death on Tuesday night at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital. He was a student of the Institute of Education and Research, enrolled in the 2018–19 academic year. He hailed from Belkuchi upazila in Sirajganj.