Hill Voice, 17 January 2025, Dhaka: A case has been filed with Motijheel Police Station in Dhaka, against 16 identified and 200/300 unknown miscreants involved in the brutal attack on the peaceful march of the Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People on January 15, 2025. The attack was carried out by Muslim Bengali settlers and fundamentalist groups under the banner of ‘Students for Sovereignty.’

On Thursday (January 16) Jagadish Chakma (27), the President of the Dhaka Metropolitan Branch of Hill Student Council, who himself was injured in the incident, filed the case as the complainant.

The 16 individuals named in the case are:

1. Arif Al Khabir (38), son of Md. Hossain Ansari from Eidgaon Residential Area, of Dinajpur, District district, presently living in 17/1, Shahjahanpur area in Dhaka;
2. Md. Abbas (24), son of Badsha Mia, from Kalighat Road, Sreemangal upazila of Moulvibazar district, presently living in- Rajarbagh Mazar Sharif area in Dhaka;
3. Md. Ziaul Haque (28), student of Department of Law- Session-2012-2013, Dhaka University.
4. Mohiuddin Rahat (23), Department of Criminology- Session- 2019-2020, Dhaka University.
5. Md. Yakub Majumdar (20), Department of Physical Science- Session-2021-2022, Dhaka University.
6. Shahadat Faraji Sakib (35), recently expelled member, National Citizens Committee, Dhanmondi Police Station Representative Committee.
7. Sahidur Rahman (25), communication disorder, University of Dhaka.
8. Shaukat (21).
9. Rajon Hossain (20).
10. Wafi (20).
11. Manwar (24).
12. Nuhan (20).
13. Jihad (22).
14. Sajib (25).
15. Abdul Malek (28).
16. Ghulam Ali Naeem (24).

The FIR states that on January 15, 2025, at 11:00 AM, a peaceful march by the (Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People) was held as part of a previously announced program. The march started from the Raju Sculpture at Dhaka University, passed around the Faculty of Arts building, proceeded through the Doyel Chattar, National Press Club, and the Daily Bangla intersection, and was heading towards the NCTB (National Curriculum and Textbook Board) building in Motijheel.

The procession reached beneath the Motijheel Metro Rail Station at approximately 12:50 PM, where a pre-positioned group of fundamentalist militants, armed with national flags, stamped weapons, sticks, and locally made arms, had gathered under the name of the bogus organization “Students for Sovereignty.” The leaders and members of this militant group repeatedly beat the peaceful march of the (Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People) with intent to kill in a terrorist manner.

The FIR further states that (Jagdish Chakma) along with Ananta Bikash Dhamai, Don Jetra, Reng Yong Mro, Jewel Theotonias, Rupaiya Shrestha Tanchangya, Tony Chiran, Futonto Chakma, and 15 others were severely injured. Currently, Rupaiya Shrestha Tanchangya, Don Jetra, and Jewel Theotonias are hospitalized at Bangladesh Specialized Hospital, Shyamoli, Dhaka, fighting for their lives. Ananta Bikash Dhamai and Futonto Chakma have received six stitches each on their heads and are undergoing treatment. The others are receiving treatment either in the hospital or at home.

It is clearly visible in the video footage from various online newspapers, print media, and electronic media how the arrested two suspects, along with the other offenders, are beating the ‘Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People with locally made weapons and stamped objects wrapped in national flags.

In addition, the arrested suspects Arif Al Khabir (38), Mohammad Abbas (24), and Mohammad Ziaul Haq injured Rupaiya Shrestha Tanchangya by hitting on the head repeatedly with a stamp and her head was bleeding badly due to severe attacks. Similarly, the offenders injured Ananta Bikash Dhamai, Futonto Chakma, Don Jetra, and Jewel Theotonias with stamps and bricks repeatedly that causes severe bleeding.

The 16 mentioned suspects, along with another 200-300 unidentified individuals, indiscriminately attacked the Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People,’ causing severe and bleeding injuries.

It is worth mentioning that on January 12, some members of an extremist communal and fundamentalist organization under the banner of “Students for Sovereignty” surrounded the NCTB building, demanding the removal of the word “Indigenous” from the cover of textbooks. Ignoring the administration’s objections, they entered the building. In response to the aggressive stance of the so-called students, the NCTB authorities, without any verification, accepted the demand and withdrew the “Indigenous” word from the online version of the textbooks that very night.

On January 15, 2025 in protest against the removal of the image or graffiti depicting the July people’s uprising with the word ‘indigenous’ from the textbooks, and demanding the restoration of the word ‘Indigenous’ on the textbook covers, the Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People’ called for a demonstration to surround the NCTB. When the procession of the Aggrieved Indigenous Student-People’ reached near the NCTB, the Muslim Bengali settlers and fundamentalist groups of ‘Students for Sovereignty’ attacked the indigenous students with rods, sticks, concrete stamps, and sharp weapons.