Bangladeshi community in St. John's fears for loved ones amid protests in South Asian country
People gather at MUN to show their support for protesters in Bangladesh
About 100 people gathered in front of the clock tower on Memorial University's St. John's campus Thursday afternoon to show their solidarity with protesters in Bangladesh.
A spokesperson for the university's Bangladeshi Cultural Community, which organized the demonstration, says it's in an effort to draw attention to the ongoing protests in his home country.
"I believe that peaceful protest and demonstration is a human right, and that's what these students are doing. And I believe that it is also a responsibility for the government to protect this right," said Ontu Touhidul Islam.
"And they have failed, they have failed and they have failed."
Students in the South Asian country have protested its job quota, which reserves 30 per cent of government jobs for family members of those who fought in Bangladesh's war of independence in 1971, for weeks.
While the quota had been suspended since 2018 following mass student demonstrations, it was reinstated last month, sparking new protests.
Several people have been killed during the ensuing clashes among student protesters, members of the student wing of the ruling Awami League party and police.
"The news that's spreading on the channels are not exactly the full story that's going on in Bangladesh. It's much more horrific," said Touhidul Islam.
"I was awake last night until 3 a.m. watching my friends and the students on the street because they declared a nationwide protest and I know what that means.… The police forces actually used their own vehicle to run over these students and they killed them. Now my question is to the general public: what government actually does possess police force … to kill students and what do you call them? Do you call them just or unjust?"
As of Thursday, the internet has been shut down across the country, leaving Touhidul Islam and other Bangladeshis in St. John's without way of contacting their loved ones.
"Bangladesh is now disconnected from the whole world. So we are unable to reach to them, our families and friends, and we're really concerned," he said.
"This morning, I actually cried out from my bed and I was crying, literally crying."
To support distressed Bangladeshi students, he said, Memorial University and the College of the North Atlantic should offer counselling sessions.
Israt Lipa shares Touhidul Islam's concerns.
The Memorial University PhD folklore student was a teacher in Bangladesh, she said, so she fears for her students.
"Sometimes I feel so bad that I'm not here with them," said Lipa. "I would like to say I'm very proud of them because their families are also allowing them to protest. Not protest, actually, the word should be raising their voice about their rights."
Lipa said students aren't opposed to a quota in general but want to see the system reformed to make it fairer.
"All of our students, especially who are in public and both in private universities in higher education, they are from a very middle class," she said. Their families are depending on them to secure a good job when they graduate, she said.
"We are just here today to show them at least we are with you. It's kind of like standing together. Though we are far away, but we are also in solidarity with them."
Touhidul Islam wants to see that same solidarity from international governments, who he said should appeal to the Bangladeshi government to stop the violence.
"I want to call the government of Bangladesh as a dictator and she controls everything," he said.
"This quota reform protest is not a quota reform protest anymore because they crossed the boundary. and the students and the general publics are really pissed at the government."
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