Oikya Front’s public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan 22 Oct

Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Gano Forum president Kamal Hossain, on Wednesday decided to hold a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the city on 22 October, protesting at the murder of BUET student Abrar Fahad, reports news agency UNB.

The alliance will also launch a mass signature campaign both at home and abroad to register its protest against the murder of the meritorious student.

The decisions were taken at a meeting of the alliance’s steering committee at Kamal Hossain’s Motijheel chamber.

Talking to newsmen after the meeting, Kamal said, “We all are worried about the country’s situation. People are also concerned as several dreadful incidents have taken place recently.”

He said a brilliant and innocent student like Abrar was killed in a planned way. “This is really dangerous.”

Kamal, also the president of Gano Forum, said they discussed various incidents, including Abrar killing, which have taken place in the country recently, and decided to hold a public rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on 22 September.

At the rally, he said, the alliance leaders will focus on the country’s overall situation.

Abrar Fahad, 21, a resident of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), was beaten to death allegedly by some Chhatra League leaders and activists of the university unit on 7 October.

On Sunday, police foiled a civic mourning rally brought out by the Jatiya Oikya Front in the city protesting at the killing of Abrar Fahad.

Asked whether they will hold the rally if they are not given permission for it, Kamal said they will take a decision on the matter considering the evolving situation.

“But the government should know it is violating the constitution by not allowing permission for the public meetings. The Constitution enshrined the right to hold meetings, rallies and express opinions. If the government violates the constitution, I think people should push them out (of power),” he observed.

Gano Forum general secretary Reza Kibria said Oikya Front will collect mass signature in Bangladesh and different countries across the world seeking the proper trial of Abrar murder, apart from the rally in the city.

“All the parties of our alliance will present the format of the mass signature campaign on their websites. This campaign will be launched following the model of protest we did after the murder of my father (Shah AMS Kibria),” he said.

Reza said they will later inform all about the schedule to launch the campaign.

Once the campaign is over, he said, they will display the signatures in Dhaka and other major cities.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal president ASM Abdur Rob, Nagorik Oikya convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, Gano Forum executive presidents professor Abu Sayeed, Subrata Chowdhury, BNP standing committee member Iqbal Hasan Mahmud Tuku and Gonoshasthaya Kendra founder Zafrullah Chowdhury were, among others, present at the meeting.