The Editors Guild, Bangladesh, and the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) have strongly condemned and expressed deep concerns regarding the slogans chanted by quota protesters, particularly the use of the term “razakar”.

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Mozammel Babu, president of the Editors Guild, Bangladesh, issued a statement highlighting that a faction within the ongoing quota reform movement appears to be intent on creating an atmosphere of unrest in the country. The journalists’ forum urged all parties involved to act responsibly to maintain peace and stability.

Protesters, after misinterpreting remarks given by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday, chanted slogans declaring themselves as “razakar”; this is both unfortunate and deeply insulting to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War, he added.

“Everyone wants a logical reform of the quota system in government jobs. But, Editors Guild, Bangladesh noticed that a quarter with vested interest is trying to pit the quota movement against the Liberation War and freedom fighters,” Mozammel said.

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The Editors Guild, Bangladesh, urged all parties to refrain from creating such divisions, the statement added.

In a separate statement, BFUJ President Omar Faruk and Secretary General Dip Azad echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the need for a logical reform of the quota system. “We observed that a quarter with vested interest is attempting to position the quota reformers as opponents of our great Liberation War and valiant freedom fighters,” they said.

“Not only that, some are behaving in a way that represents the defeated forces of the Liberation War. We condemn such behavior,” reads the BFUJ statement.

The journalist leaders further condemned the chanting of slogans referring to razakars at Dhaka University, a symbol of democratic movements. “This incident has left us shocked. We strongly condemn and protest against it,” they said.

Apart from journalists’ forums, the Sammilito Sanskritik Jote, Actors Equity Bangladesh, and the Dhaka University Alumni Association also condemned the slogans uttered by students from different universities across the country.

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On Sunday night, students of Dhaka University and other universities and colleges across the country erupted in protest, sparked by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s remarks on the quota protests.