Thousands of university students across Bangladesh took to the streets on Sunday night, primarily on their campuses, in protest at remarks made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The protesters said the prime minister’s remarks deeply offended them.

During these demonstrations, sporadic attacks occurred, resulting in injuries to at least four people, including Asif Mahmud, the co-coordinator of the Students Movement Against Discrimination.

The attacks were allegedly carried out by members of the ruling Awami League’s student wing, Bangladesh Chhatra League, in Dhaka and Chattogram.

The protests were sparked by comments made by Prime Minister Hasina during a press conference at her official residence, Ganabhaban, where she responded to questions regarding the anti-quota protests on Sunday.

She questioned, ‘Why is there so much anger against the liberation war and freedom fighters? Will the grandchildren of freedom fighters not receive quotas? Will Razakars’ grandchildren get them? My question is to the people of the country.’

Several thousand students from Dhaka University, Jagannath University, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Eden Mahila College, Rajshahi University, and Chattogram University participated in the protests.

They marched on their campuses and even blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in the early hours of Monday.

The protests were particularly intense at Dhaka University, where students from various residential halls such as Kabi Jasimuddin Hall, Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall, Bijoy Ekattor Hall, Rokeeya Hall, Bangladesh-Kuwait Maitree Hall, Shamsunnahar Hall, and Surja Sen Hall mobilised to demand reforms in government job quotas.

Around midnight, Dhaka University students gathered at the Anti-Terrorism Raju Memorial Sculpture and in front of the Vice-Chancellor’s Bungalow, chanting slogans such as ‘Who are you, who am I… Razakar, Razakar…?” and ‘Quota or Merit’.

In response to the remarks, students expressed concern that the comments unfairly labelled all students who were not descendants of freedom fighters as Razakars or collaborators of the Pakistan army during the 1971 war of independence.

One protester at Dhaka University questioned, ‘My father was born after the creation of Bangladesh… how could he have joined the war?’

Security was tightened with a significant presence of police at all entry gates of Dhaka University, while members of Bangladesh Chhatra League positioned themselves in front of Madhu’s canteen on the campus.

During the protests, Asif Mahmud of the Students Movement Against Discrimination was reportedly assaulted by leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League when he attempted to rescue students confined in Bijoy Ekattor Hall.

Addressing the demonstration, another co-coordinator of the platform Rifat Rashid affirmed the incident and condemned the attack. Despite multiple attempts, BCL central general secretary Sheikh Wali Asif Enan could not be reached for comment.

Abdul Bashir, the provost of Bijoy Ekattor Hall, stated they were not involved in the student issue. ‘We hope the situation will de-escalate,’ he added.

In Chattogram, a group of leaders and activists from Chittagong University’s BCL attacked protesting students around 11:30 pm on Sunday.

Three students, including a female, were injured and admitted to Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

The attack was reportedly carried out by around five Chattra League leaders, including former BCL CU unit vice-president Abrar Shahriar and incumbent vice-president M Sharif Uddin.

The accused justified their actions, stating, ‘We are sons of freedom fighters and will not tolerate slogans that disrespect our freedom fighters and the Liberation War.’

In Dhaka, BCL members also obstructed students and confined them in halls.

‘The prime minister has libelled us all as Razakars in a blanket manner. We have left our halls to protest her remarks,’ said another student from the English department of the 2019-20 session.

He reported that their peers were confined in Bijoy Ekattor Hall by BCL leaders and activists.

Sarjis Alam, a coordinator of Students Movement Against Discrimination, a platform advocating for quota reforms for government jobs, described the procession as one of the largest in the university’s history when speaking to New Age.

‘We are marching across the entire campus and encouraging all students to join us,’ he said.

At Jagannath University, both female and male students gathered at the university’s main gate around 11:45 pm to protest at the prime minister’s remarks.

The agitating students also conducted a procession in the area around 12:20 am on Monday.

Meanwhile, at Rajshahi University, students blocked the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway in front of the university’s main entrance in response to the PM’s comments, as reported by the New Age Staff Correspondent in Rajshahi.

The demonstrations at RU were called off around 1:30 am, with plans announced to reconvene in front of the university’s central library at 10:30 am on Monday.

On Sunday, students protesting for quota system reforms in government jobs presented a memorandum to President Mohammed Shahabuddin, issuing a fresh 24-hour ultimatum for the government to accept their demand.