BNP's affiliated organization, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, has responded to the tearing down of posters commemorating National Revolution and Solidarity Day on November 7 at Dhaka University (DU).
In a statement to the media on Friday night (November 8), Chhatra Dal's Central General Secretary Nasir Uddin expressed his reaction.
He said, “The spirit of November 7 does not belong solely to BNP or Chhatra Dal; it is a moment of historical revolution for every citizen who believes in the sovereignty of Bangladesh and opposes domination. On that day, the revolutionary soldiers and people’s patriotism protected Bangladesh’s independence. Therefore, November 7 is a proud day in our national history.”
Nasir Uddin explained that Chhatra Dal had put up posters on campus for November 7, briefly describing its context and significance. “This was not a personal promotion or a party program advertisement. It was a campaign in remembrance of a historical revolution for the nation. You may disagree with Chhatra Dal or criticize the style of the posters, which is a vital aspect of a democratic society. However, as a citizen of Bangladesh, tearing down a poster commemorating November 7 is disrespectful and inappropriate.”
The Chhatra Dal central general secretary continued, “You cannot incite a mob to tear down posters, nor provoke a mob against Chhatra Dal members. Demonstrating brute force to corner one side is undemocratic behavior, contrary to the spirit of the July-August student uprising. Such actions could fracture the unprecedented national unity for democracy that formed among students in July-August. We must remain vigilant so that no defeated forces exploit divisions among us.”
He further added that all student organizations, as partners in the July-August uprising, must move forward by upholding democratic values to preserve national unity. “Tolerance for differing opinions is the basic requirement for practicing democracy. We urge everyone to maintain patience and restraint.”
