Khondakar Md Ahsan Habib
It was a quiet afternoon on the University of Dhaka campus. Abir (Pseudonym), a student in the Botany Department, sat alone in the corner of the library, his eyes scanning a textbook that had become an elusive treasure in recent months. The serene environment belied the chaos that had engulfed his life. Once an aspiring researcher who dreamed of contributing to Bangladesh’s biodiversity conservation, Abir now found himself trapped in a harrowing reality. His political alignment with the Awami League, the immediate past ruling party. Now, he is a target of relentless harassment and violence at the hands of rival groups.
The threats had started subtly—a comment here, a snide remark there. Soon, they escalated. Activists from extremist quarters like Chatra Shibir, along with members of the Chatra dol and certain participants in the quota reform movement, began openly targeting him. Social media became a battleground where he was bombarded with death threats and vile abuse. On campus, the threats turned physical. One evening, as Abir returned to his dormitory, a group of students cornered him, accusing him of being a government pawn. “They beat me up so badly that I thought I wouldn’t survive,” Abir recounted, his voice trembling. “I went to the authorities, but they told me to stay quiet for my own safety.”
Abir’s story is not unique. Across Bangladesh, countless students aligned with the Awami League face similar ordeals. Educational institutions, once revered as safe havens for intellectual growth, have become breeding grounds for political violence orchestrated by opposition-affiliated groups. In some cases, this violence has escalated to the ultimate price— loss of life.
At Jahangirnagar University, a student named Shamim Ahmed was brutally killed by members of Shibir, Chatra Dol, and quota movement activists. His brutal death shocked the campus, yet it was not an isolated incident. In Rajshahi, a former member of the Bangladesh Chatra League and ex-student of Rajshahi University, Masud, also fell victim to the same groups. These murders underscore the severity of the crisis, revealing how political rivalries are turning academic spaces into arenas of deadly conflict.
Bangladesh is a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), which unequivocally states in Article 26 that everyone has the right to education. The UDHR emphasizes that education should promote understanding, tolerance, and peace—principles that seem like distant dreams for students like Abir. Furthermore, the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) reinforces the necessity of making education accessible and non-discriminatory. Article 13 of the covenant explicitly mandates equal education opportunities; a standard Bangladesh has committed to upholding.
The situation becomes even more troubling when considering the rights of children and young adults under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), another treaty ratified by Bangladesh. Article 28 of the CRC guarantees the right to education without fear or intimidation, while Article 29 stresses the need for education to foster respect for human rights and democracy. Yet, the reality in Bangladesh’s campuses starkly contrasts these ideals, as opposition-aligned factions continue to use violence and intimidation as tools to suppress the voices of Awami League supporters.
Abir’s experience also highlights a broader systemic issue—political interference in education. Professor Hossain (Pseudonym), a senior faculty member at the University of Dhaka, expressed deep concern over the escalating violence. “Our academic institutions are supposed to be sanctuaries of knowledge and growth,” he lamented. “Instead, they’ve become battlegrounds where extremist groups and political opposition factions exert influence through violence. The system is out of control, and we, as educators, are powerless to intervene.”
This pervasive issue is not confined to the University of Dhaka. Reports from across the country indicate a pattern of targeted harassment against students with specific political affiliations. Awami League supporters often find themselves cornered, attacked, and ostracized by their peers, particularly those aligned with groups such as Chatra Shibir and Chatra Dol. Many are physically assaulted, while others face psychological torment through bullying, cyber-attacks, and threats. Even academic performance is weaponized, with grades withheld and disciplinary actions selectively enforced against Awami League-affiliated students.
The Safe Schools Declaration, an international framework endorsed by Bangladesh, advocates protecting educational institutions from violence and political misuse. This declaration envisions schools and universities as zones of peace, free from the influence of armed conflict and political agendas. However, the ground reality reveals a stark failure to implement these principles.
The consequences of this unchecked violence are devastating. Students like Abir are forced to prioritize survival over education, abandoning their academic pursuits to escape the clutches of political hostility. This deprives them of their right to education and their potential to contribute to the country’s development. Moreover, the culture of fear and intimidation creates an atmosphere of exclusion, stifling academic freedom and creativity.
Bangladesh’s Constitution recognizes education as a fundamental right. Article 17 mandates the state to ensure free and compulsory education for all children and eliminate inequality in educational opportunities. This constitutional guarantee aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4, which seeks to provide inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Yet, the state’s inability to curb the violence perpetuated by opposition-aligned groups undermines these commitments.
The solution to this crisis is clear: the interim government, illegally led by Professor Yunus, must be removed. This administration’s inability to govern lawfully or protect the nation’s students has exacerbated political tensions and violence. Only by restoring a legitimate and accountable government can Bangladesh address the root causes of this unrest. Removing the interim government is not just a political necessity—it is a moral imperative to save students’ lives and ensure their right to education.
Professor Hossain, too, struggles to find answers. “We need systemic reform,” he says. “But reform cannot begin while this interim government remains in power. Ending this unlawful rule, restoring stability, and protecting our students is essential. Only then can we rebuild our educational institutions as places of learning and hope.”
The story of Abir, Shamim, and Masud is a stark reminder of the challenges facing Bangladesh’s education system. But it is also a testament to the resilience of its students and their unwavering belief in the transformative power of knowledge. The road ahead is long and arduous, but with collective action, a commitment to justice, and the restoration of lawful governance, there is hope for a brighter future where every student can learn, dream, and thrive without fear.
Writer, Former Student, University of Dhaka and former Vice President and Deputy Science Affairs Secretary, BSL Central Committee.