Students of road safety movement must be acquitted

Demonstrating students were attacked and beaten by police when they besieged Dhaka roads last year demanding road safety following the deaths of two fellow students in a road accident. These students are still have been being harassed due to cases filed against them on charges of sabotage, obstructing police duty and vandalism for months.
The case, however, of killing the two students of Shaheed Ramiz Uddin College, Rajib and Dia, has been tried and the accused have been sentenced in judicial court.
The students took to the streets in demand of justice and bringing order to the chaotic road and transport sector last year. The protest led the way to the verdict of the Diya-Rajib murder case. Unfortunately some of those students involved in the movement are still facing harassment for the past 16 months. Although three of the accused students were released from attendance before the court, the remaining 25 students still have to appear in court every month.

Police were not able to find any concrete evidence of the alleged crimes against the students despite 16 months of investigation. They even failed to submit any charge-sheet in court. Many of the students have not been able to make passports because of the cases. This is not just the violation of justice, but also the violation of human rights.

The student movement for the demand of safe roads got public support across the country. The people came out on the streets to support them at the time. The accused students said although many were sympathetic to them after the arrest, they now have to carry out the legal battle themselves. Many of them are also struggling to cover the costs of the cases.

Hundreds of school, college and university students carried out a movement seeking 9-point demands after two students, Rajib and Diya, had died being hit by a bus of Jebel-e-Noor Paribahan on 29 July last year. On 4 August, activists of the ruling Awami League’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), wearing helmets,attacked the protestors at various places. Students of Dhaka University and North South University protested against the attack and clashed with police. East West University students faced police attack while being blocked on their own campus. Yet hundreds of students, including 22 private university students were accused of 'obstructing government work'. On the other hand, a lawsuit was filed against dozens of students including BUET student Daiyan Nafis Pradhan under the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) act.

The law enforcement can take necessary action against any person violating the law. But the students carried out the movement in demand of implementation of road safety law. They were attacked by police and government-backed helmet groups. No action has been taken against the helmet forces, but cases have been filed against the demonstrating students.

Police officials involved with the investigation said, a final decision on the case will be taken soon. Almost 16 months already have passed. It is clear that there is not enough evidence to support the case. It is true that a number of rumours were spread at the time. Those who were responsible to spread the rumours are not identified yet after so many months. Also, the allegations against those arrested as suspects could not be substantiated.

The student demands were valid and therefore the government has made new road transport laws accordingly. Although delayed, the law begun to take effect finally. Traffic management and discipline are starting to gain importance in all the spheres.
The case of Diya and Rajib was tried. All these were resulted from students’ road safety movement. We feel there is no reason to keep the cases filed against students pending. We hope the government will dismiss the cases immediately and release those students from harassment.