CU Correspondent
Two members of the banned Bangladesh Students League (BSL) stood outside gate number one of the University of Chittagong (CU) on Saturday, holding a printed poster to demand what they called a restoration of “The Right to Education” and threatening to escalate pressure on the university administration in the upcoming days. The two are Mahmuduzzaman Umor, a student of the Law department (session 2020-21), and Arnob Bairagi, a student of the Bangla department (session 2020-21).
Their poster cited Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), arguing that education is a fundamental human right and that denying access to classrooms on the basis of organizational affiliation amounts to discrimination. They also protested what they described as mass expulsions of students across the country following BSL’s ban in October 2024.
In a Facebook post accompanying the demonstration, Umor announced plans to move to CU’s Zero Point the following days and to the administrative building later. The post also included an open threat directed at the administration: “Very soon I will breathe fire down your necks. If needed, I will burn everything to ashes.”
The post also referenced cases at other institutions, including students at BUET allegedly being prevented from progressing beyond the intermediate level following a syndicate decision, and a student at Chattogram Medical College having their certificate withheld for eight years.
Both men’s public Facebook profiles show BSL affiliations. Umor’s profile lists him as an activist with BSL’s CU unit since July 2022, while Bairagi’s reflects association with the same organization since 2018. The post closed with the organization’s official slogan, “Joy Bangla, Joy Bangabandhu.”
Saturday’s incident comes amid continuing friction over BSL’s presence at CU. Banners linked to the organization have previously appeared on campus and been taken down, with the proctor’s office distancing itself each time. On June 6, the platform “July Unity, Chattogram” submitted a memorandum to the Home Ministry demanding action against the banned group’s ongoing activities in the district. CU has previously expelled BSL-affiliated students over clashes, vandalism, and attacks on journalists. In July 2024, members of the organization attacked protesters on campus, injuring 13 people.