Leaders and activists from progressive and left leaning parties have demanded the release of Jagannath University student Khadijatul Kobra from a rally held on the Dhaka University campus.

The rally was called marking one year of the arrest of Khadijatul Kobra, a student of Jagannath University, under the draconian Digital Security Act that is now set to be amended, for hosting an online talk show where a guest made comments that offended the government. Two cases were filed against her by police.  

Today's rally was attended by former president of Communist party of Bangladesh, Mujahidul Islam Selim; Prof. Tanzimuddin Khan of international relations department of Dhaka University, convenor of Ganasamhati Andalon, Junaid Saki; and leaders and activists from left leaning students parties.

Prof. Tanzimuddin said, "The system under which we are living in is totally inhumane. We all are in danger. We are living in a ‘culture of fear’ and we do not have the right to express our words."

"The system that is going on, must be changed because there is no governance. to change the government, we have to fight till the end," he added

Demanding release of Khadijatul Kobra, he said, " Khadija is a woman and she has legal rights to defend herself but state mechanisms deprived her from her rights. To have our rights back we have to establish a democratic government by applying our proper voting power. If we elect a government democratically, the government will be bound to hear us and respond to our questions."

Junaid Saki, said, "Khadijatul Kobra was captured under the allegations of ‘attempt against the government and creating unrest situation in the country’. But in a democratic country it is legal to attempt to remove the government from power. It is very much democratic and constitutional because taking attempts to Against government and taking attempts against the state(treason) are not the same things."

Demanding unconditional release of Khadija, he said, "Khadija has been arrested under DSA which act has recently been removed under foreign pressures but Khadija is still in the prison. On the other hand they are trying to reinforce the same act by renaming the cybersecurity Act which will be the same as Digital Security Act."

Later, Saki asked the students to form a movement to remove the 'fascist government' from the power to protect the country and to implement the potentials that our country has.

Mujahidul Islam Selim, former president of CPB, said, "People of our country will remember Khadija forever as a fighter of democracy and those, who imprisoned her, will be remembered as the culprits."

"The release of Khadijatul Kobra from the prison is related to the government in power. We have to remove this government from the power to free Khadija."

Demanding caretaker government during the next national election, he said, "AL representatives saying that if they do not come to power in the next election, they have to fly to foreign country. That's why, to stay in this country and to be in power, they will again stage a 'fake election drama'. We have to resist them and remove them. We want a caretaker government."