STATEMENT: JMBF Strongly Condemns the Ban on Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL)

Paris, France; October 23, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses deep concern and strongly condemns the recent ban on Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) by the interim government of Bangladesh, led by Nobel Laureate for Peace, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Yunus, announced on October 23, 2024, under the Anti-Terrorism Act-2009. This decision, taken in response to demands from the student movement against discrimination, raises serious questions about the government’s motivations and the broader implications for civil liberties and democratic practices in Bangladesh.

The decision to ban the BCL, a 76-year-old pro-Awami League student organization, came in response to demands from a student movement against discrimination, following an ultimatum by the students to intensify their demonstrations if the BCL was not banned within the week. JMBF questions the legitimacy of a decision made under pressure from the protests and whether it genuinely serves the interests of justice or reflects an attempt to appease certain factions in a politically charged environment.

BANGLADESH: JMBF Deeply Concerned and Protests Over the Killing of Six Individuals, Including Three Students, During Nationwide Student Protests Against Quota System

Paris, France; July 17, 2024: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) expresses its profound grief and deep concern over the tragic killings of at least six people, including three students, and the injury of several hundred others during violent clashes between quota protesters, Chhatra League (BCL) activists, and police on July 16, 2024, in Bangladesh.

France-based human rights organization committed to justice, human rights, and the rule of law, JMBF condemns the excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies and the violent actions perpetrated by the Chhatra League. The right to peaceful assembly and protest is a fundamental democratic principle, and it is distressing to witness the brutal suppression of these rights.

BANGLADESH: JMBF Condemns the Violent Attacks on Peaceful Student Protestors by Chhatra League with Government Support

Paris, France; July 15, 2023: JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) is deeply concerned about and strongly condemns the armed attacks, beatings, and sexual assaults on general students including female students by the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), an organization affiliated with the Bangladesh Awami League. These heinous acts, which occurred with direct government support, took place during the ongoing non-violent and peaceful democratic movement by ordinary students from various colleges and universities. The students are demanding reform of the existing quota system in government jobs. Furthermore, JMBF calls for the reformation of the current quota system to address the fair demands of the students and to re-fix quotas for backward sections of society at all levels of government employment.

প্রেস বিবৃতি: সাধারণ শিক্ষার্থীদের অসহিংস শান্তিপূর্ণ গণতান্ত্রিক আন্দোলনে সরকারের প্রত্যক্ষ মদদে ছাত্রলীগের হামলার ঘটনায় জেএমবিএফ গভীর ভাবে উদবিগ্ন!

প্যারিস, ফ্রান্স; জুলাই ১৫, ২০২৩ঃ সরকারি চাকুরীতে বিদ্যমান কোটা ব্যবস্থা সংস্কারের দাবীতে দেশের বিভিন্ন কলেজ ও বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের সাধারণ শিক্ষার্থীদের ডাকে চলমান অহিংস ও শান্তিপূর্ণ গণতান্ত্রিক আন্দোলনে সরকারের প্রত্যক্ষ মদদে বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামীলীগ এর সহযোগী সংগঠন বাংলাদেশ ছাত্রলীগের নেতাকর্মীদের স্বশস্ত্র হামলা, মারধর ও নারী শিক্ষার্থিদের শ্লীনতাহানীর ঘটনায় জাস্টিসমেকার্স বাংলাদেশ ইন ফ্রান্স (জেএমবিএফ) তীব্র প্রতিবাদ ও নিন্দা জানিয়েছে। পাশাপাশি, শিক্ষার্থীদের ন্যায্য দাবী মেনে নিয়ে বর্তমানে বিদ্যমান কোটা ব্যবস্থা সংস্কারপূর্বক সরকারী চাকুরীর সকল স্তরে যৌতিকভাবে কোটা পুনঃনির্ধারণের আহবান জানিয়েছে ফ্রান্স ভিত্তিক মানবাধিকার প্রতিষ্টানটি।

Statement: JusticeMakers Bangladesh is gravely concerned over sexual harassment on a student of Islamic University, Kustia.

JusticeMakers Bangladesh is deeply concerned over the recent incident of sexual harassment, physical and psychological torture and death threats on a first year student of Islamic University, Kustia in Bangladesh led by Sanjida Chowdhury, Vice President of Bangladesh Student League, student wing of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League, Islamic University branch on 12 February late night to 13 February early morning, 2023.

Simultaneously, JusticeMakers Bangladesh urged the concerned authority to form a judicial probe committee to find out the alleged culprit, aiming to bring them before the book conducting a quick and impartial investigation.