The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of the BNP, on Wednesday released a list of 49 of its leaders and activists who were killed during the student-led mass movement against the autocratic rule of Sheikh Hasina.
JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib presented the list at a press conference held at BNP's Nayapaltan central office.
“Forty-nine leaders and activists of the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal have embraced martyrdom in this student-led mass uprising. Over a thousand students have been martyred in this movement," he said.
Rakib paid tribute to all the martyrs, including the 49 members of the JCD, on behalf of their organisation.
He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the salvation of their souls, describing the sacrifices made by the Chhatra Dal during the July-August protests as unprecedented.
The JCD President said their organisation provided full support to the quota reform movement from its inception.
He also said the JCD leaders and activists across all levels participated in the agitation under the anti-discrimination banner, playing a crucial role in intensifying the movement.
The JCD leaders and activists who were killed include Wasim Akram of Chittagong College, Arifur Rahman Russell of Dhaka City (East) Chhatra Dal unit, Mahbub Alam of Sherpur Government College, Sabuj Miah of Sreebordi Government College in Sherpur, Biplab Hasan of Mozaffar Ali Fakir High School and College at Gouripur in Mymensingh, Emon Miah at Arjun Union of Bhuapur Upazila in Tangail, Mehdi Hasan Rabbi in Magura District JCD, Raihanul Islam of Ulipur Upazila JCD of Kurigram, Shahid Kawsar Hossain Bijoy of Lakshmipur Government College, Fazle Rabbi of Dhaka City (East) JCD unit, Manik Miah Sharik of Mirkadim JCD in Munshiganj, Farid Sheikh of Rampal Upazila JCD in Bagerhat, Ismail Hossain Rabbi of Dhaka city Ward No-40 JCD unit, Shawon of Sutrapur Thana JCD unit in Dhaka city and Shamim Howladar of Dhaka City (West) JCD unit.
The JCD martyred men also include Irfan Bhuiyan of United International University, Munir Hossain of Bhatara Thana JCD, Imtiaz Ahmed Jabir of South East University, Tahidul Islam of Dhaka City (North) JCD, Pavel Hasan Rabbi of Matlab JCD in Chandpur, Rafiqul Islam of Shivalaya Upazila’s Ward No-7 JCD in Manikganj, Rakib Ahmed of Fatulla Union JCD, Hriday Hossain of Gacha Metro Thana JCD in Gazipur, Afiqul Islam Saad of Savar JCD, Liton Hasan Lallu of Pallabi Thana JCD, Tanveer Hossain Mahmud of Bargaon Union JCD at Sonaimuri in Noakhali, Sapta of Sharifpur JCD in Jamalpur and Zahidul Islam of Dikpaive JCD in Jamalpur.
The other martyrs include Ripon Chandra Sheel of Habiganj Ward No-9 unit, Saiful Islam of Gujirkona JCD unit of at Durgapur police station in Netrakona, Mallik Afzal Miah of Jagannathpur unit in Sunamganj, Sumon Islam of Ward No-3 JCD unit at Boda in Panchagarh district, Sagar Ahmed of Mirpur Bangla College JCD, Tanveer Raihan Alif and Yusuf Ali of Jashore JCD, Sabbir Mallik of Chitalmari Sher-e Bangla College JCD in Bagerhat, Ahad Ali of Aminur Rahman College in Magura and Raju Ahmed of Jagdal Union JCD in Magura.
The rest JCD men who were killed are Md Shawon of Madhabdi in Narsingdi, Asif Hossain of Jalaluddin Degree College at Begumganj in Noakhali, Tanveer Siddiqui of Ashekan Auliya Degree College at Maheshkhali in Cox's Bazar, Nurul Mostafa of Islamabad Union at Eidgah Upazila in Cox’s Bazar, Rakib Howladar of Jhalkathi Ward No-7, Md Riaz of Muladi Government College, Sagar Gazi of Gallachipar in Patuakhali, Russell Mahmud of Sonargaon University, Sumon of Sadarpur in Sirajgang district and Amzad Hossain of Shibpur Shaheed Asad College in Narsingdi.
JCD not with violence-anarchy: Rakib
The JCD president strongly claimed that JCD leaders are not involved in any anarchy.
“We firmly want to say that the Chhatra Dal is not involved in any disorder. Chhatra Dal has survived enduring tortures and persecutions in the last 15 and half years. None of our leaders are involved in any disorder and illegal occupation,” he said.
JCD to continue positive politics: Nasir
Addressing the function, JCD general secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said they think that the future politics would be positive politics.
“The positive politics will continue as Chhatra Dal always did in the past. We want to continue the contest of positive politics with every student organization,” he said.
In reply to a question, Nasir said they think student politics is required for a healthy politics and materializing the rights of students on the campuses. “It is time to stop the politics of the student organisations that carried out violence, extortion and beat people to death, abused power, and incidents like robbery,” he said.
JCD senior vice president Abu Afsan md Yahia and Joint general secretary Shyamal Malum, among its other central leaders, were present.