Biplobi Chhatra Maitree held a protest rally demanding the trial of former Chief Adviser Dr. Mohammad Yunus and Health Adviser Nurjahan Begum, holding them responsible for "the deaths of more than 300 children due to measles."
The rally took place at 4:00 PM in front of the Raju Sculpture near TSC at the University of Dhaka.
During the protest, leaders and activists of the organisation chanted various slogans and displayed symbolic bodies of children wrapped in white cloth.
They also carried placards with messages such as “Measles empties a mother’s heart, Yunus talks of profit”; “The mother who has touched her child’s corpse wants justice, not cards”; “Rows of cards beside corpses, impunity is the heaviest burden”; and “Bring Yunus and Nurjahan to justice for child deaths from measles.”
Dilip Ray, central president of Chhatra Maitree, said, “Not long ago, a mass uprising took place in Bangladesh. Through that uprising, the people ensured the defeat of a fascist force like the Awami League for the future of Bangladesh. That future lies with our children. Today, we are witnessing the loss of children’s lives due to measles.”
He said that the crisis is not natural, saying, “We are seeing the anguish of parents. Ordinary people do not know how this crisis has been created. This is not a natural crisis. God did not create this crisis - it has been created by a ruling class. This is not just a crisis of the interim period or the previous period, it is a crisis created by capitalism.”
He further added, “Just three days before leaving office, an agreement was made with U.S. war-driven imperialism. You will see that no one will talk about this agreement. If it is implemented, Bangladesh’s public health, agriculture, everything, will be destroyed. Yet you will never see this government or Jamaat speak about it.”
General Secretary of Chhatra Maitree, Jabir Ahmed Jubel, said, “The deaths of children from measles are not due to negligence. This is a clear crime, a criminal act - this is outright child killing. The government has not yet formed any investigation or committee regarding these deaths.”
He added, “Those involved in these child deaths will not be able to roam freely without justice on the soil of Bengal. They must be brought to trial and given exemplary punishment.”