As many as 210 prominent academicians, journalists, lawyers and activists linked to the citizens’ platform Committee to Protect Democratic Rights and others have issued a statement against police attacks and false cases, and violence and hateful activities by certain groups targeting the protesters of rape and harassment.

The signatories were key organizers of the July-August movement, which was led by students and patronized by BNP-Jamaat-Shibir. The platform was formed as a pressure group on August 23, 2024.

The statement said: “We are outraged by the police’s brutal attack on the pro-uprising forces when they are protesting against the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, attacks on women, threats, and increasing mob violence.”

On March 11, there was a march to submit a memorandum to the office of the Chief Adviser with a nine-point demand under the banner of “Bangladesh against Rape and Impunity”.

“During the program, the police attacked women nakedly, and we did not see any female police present there. The next day, the police filed a complaint against the injured, mentioning 12 names, and making 70-80 unnamed people as accused. One of the accused is the president of the Chhatra Federation, Mashiur Rahman Richard, who was not present at the scene. On the night of March 14, the DB police went to his house and tried to arrest him. The police took him some distance away but finally released him after information of the raid spread on Facebook.”

The citizens said that, even before this, the police attacks on various protests, including the workers’ just demands, the movement of the Ebtedayi Madrasa teachers, and the movement of the recommended assistant teachers of primary schools, which are reminiscent of the Sheikh Hasina era.

Meanwhile, some identified groups are spreading propaganda against various people, including writers, teachers, politicians, and others in the country, threatening to kill them, and engaging in mob violence, but the government, including the police, is playing a passive role. “We are surprised and aggrieved at this role of the government.”

The statement said they demand the immediate trial of the police members involved in the attack on the anti-rape protesters and the withdrawal of the false cases.

At the same time, they demanded that the police stop the activities of attacking, obstructing, and suing the democratic movement and take action against various undemocratic, terrorist, and discriminatory evil forces.

The signatories are:

1. Professor Anu Muhammad, Member, Democratic Rights Committee

2. Salimullah Khan, Professor, English, University of Liberal Arts

3. Dr. Harun-ur-Rashid, General Secretary, Maulana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani Parishad

4. Barrister Jyotirmoy Barua, Lawyer

5. Manzoor Al Matin, Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court

6. Rehnuma Ahmed, Writer and Activist

7. Saydia Gulrukh, Journalist

8. Syed Nizar, Associate Professor, Department of Philosophy, Jahangirnagar University

9. Giti Ara Nasrin, Teacher, Dhaka University

10. Hasnat Qayyum, Lawyer and Political Activist

11. Tuhin Khan, Writer and Joint-Member Secretary, NCP

12. ​​Zahirul Islam Kochi, President, Bangladesh Short Film Forum

13. Mirza Taslima Sultana, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University

14. G. H. Habib, Assistant Professor, English, Chittagong University

15. Abhinu Kibria Islam, Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, Jessore University of Science and Technology

16. Rayyan Razi, Teacher, School of General Education, BRAC University

17. Bidhan Ribeiro, Film Activist

18. Deepti Dutta, Teacher, Department of Oriental Arts, Dhaka University

19. Manisha Mafruh, Organizer, Chabbisher Uttara

20. Fahmidul Haque, Former Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University

21. Ilira Dewan, Human Rights Activist

22. Bakhtiar Ahmed, Professor, Independent University

23. Samina Lutfa, Professor, Department of Sociology, Dhaka University

24. Pritam Das, Joint Member Secretary, National Citizen Party (NCP)

25. Tahmina Khanam, Associate Professor, Department of Management, Dhaka University

26. Marzia Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Dhaka University

27. Abu Sayeed Khan, Executive Editor, Samakal

28. Haniyum Maria Khan, Senior Professor, Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University

29. Suman Sajjad, Professor, Department of Bengali, Jahangirnagar University

30. Ismail Sadi, Assistant Professor, School of General Education, BRAC University

31. Kamal Chowdhury, Professor, Dhaka University

32. Kazli Shehreen Islam, Associate Professor, Dhaka University

33. Arif Rahman, Writer and Activist

34. Saikat Amin, Poet and Writer

35. Saikat Dey, Fiction Writer

36. Seema Dutta, President, Bangladesh Women’s Liberation Center

37. Raihan Rain, Teacher, Jahangirnagar University

38. Bithi Ghosh, Cultural Organizer

39. Farhana Sharmin Emu, Architect, Humanitarian Worker

40. Souvik Reza, Professor, Department of Bengali, Rajshahi University

41. Setu Arif, Producer

42. Shoaib Mahmud, Poet

43. Sharmi Barua, Lecturer, Institute of Modern Languages, Dhaka University

44. Baki Billah, Former Student Leader

45. Mahbubul Haque Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor, Comilla University

46. Mir Huzaifa Al Mamduh, Researcher

47. Dr. Md. Golam Rabbani, Physician

48. Sirajam Munira, Assistant Professor, Department of Bengali, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur

49. Abul Fazal, Associate Professor, Department of Bengali, Khulna University

50. Samio Sheesh, Senior Research Fellow, Karas, Dhaka University

51. Rushad Faridi, Dhaka University

52. Mim Arafat Manab, Lecturer, BRAC University

53. Soumit Joydeep, Assistant Professor, School of General Education, BRAC University

54. Soumya Sarkar, Assistant Professor, English Department, Jagannath University

55. Fatema Shuvra, Associate Professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University

56. Nasir Ahmed, Jagannath University

57. Asif Mohammad Shahan, Professor, Department of Development, Dhaka University

58. Layka Bashir, Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Sciences and Humanities, University of Asia Pacific

59. Nazneen Shifa, Assistant Professor, Independent University

60. Khadija Mitu, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Chittagong University

61. Mahmudul Sumon, Professor, Department of Anthropology, Jahangirnagar University

62. Tasneem Siraj Mahbub, Associate Professor, Dhaka University

63. Nirwan Islam, Lecturer, School of General Education, BRAC University

64. Hasan Talukder, Senior Lecturer, School of General Education, BRAC University

65. Hasan Toufiq Imam, Assistant Professor, Institute of Education and Research, Chittagong University

66. Nasrin Khandaker, Researcher

67. Kamrul Hasan Mamun, Professor, Physics, Dhaka University

68. Samjir Ahmed, Lecturer, Department of Bengali, Netrokona University

69. Swadhin Sen, Professor, Department of Archaeology, Jahangirnagar University

70. Swapan Adnan, Visiting Professor, Department of Geography and Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science

71. Akram Khan, Filmmaker

72. Arafat Rahman, Assistant Professor, Department of International Relations, Gopalganj University of Science and Technology

73. Shamima Akhter, Assistant Professor, Department of Bengali, Gopalganj University of Science and Technology

74. Maidul Islam, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Chittagong University

75. Laboni Ashrafi, Lecturer, Department of Bengali Language and Literature, University Liberal of Arts

76. Sujoy Chowdhury Samya, Employee

77. Joytu Sushil Jiku, Filmmaker

78. Arman Hossain, Garment Worker, Labor Organizer

79. Sharmaind Nilormi, Professor, Department of Economics, Jahangirnagar University

80. Shehreen Ataur Khan, Assistant Professor, Department of English, Jagannath University

81. Allur Sun, Lecturer, Department of English and Humanities, University of Liberal Arts

82. Sharmi Hossain, Senior Lecturer, Department of English, North South University

83. Abdullah Harun Chowdhury, Professor, Environmental Sciences Discipline, Khulna University

84. Mamun Al Rashid, Teacher

85. Anupam Saikat Shanto, Writer and Activist

86. Dr. Rezwana Snigdha, Teacher, Jahangirnagar University

87. Munmun Nesa Chowdhury, Assistant Professor, History and Culture of Islam, Chittagong University

88. Dr. Md. Shafiqul Islam, Professor, Soil Science, Chittagong University

89. Mosherefa Mishu, General Secretary, Democratic Revolutionary Party

90. Shahidul Islam Sabuj, Political Organizer

91. Satyajit Biswas, General Secretary, Garment Workers Union

92. Golam Sarwar, Teacher, History Department, Rajshahi University

93. Iqbal Kabir Zahid, General Secretary, Revolutionary Communist League

94. Zafar Hossain, President, New Democratic People’s Front

95. Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Researcher, Writer and Activist

96. Apel Ahmed, Student, Jagannath University

97. Ayen Uddin, Journalist

98. Pooja Rani Das, Dalit Women’s Forum

99. Dr. Tanmoy Sanyal, Editor, Little Magazine Postcard

100. Sajeeb Tanvir, Independent Filmmaker

101. Ashikur Rahman Anik, independent filmmaker

102. Dr. Nazmus Shakib, dental surgeon

103. Prabhudi Tapsi, activist

104. Masud Reza, general secretary, Bangladesh Workers’ and Employees’ Federation

105. Rabiul Karim Nantu, businessman and organizer

106. Mohinuddin Chowdhury Liton, left-wing political activist and journalist

107. Sushmita Roy Supti, cultural activist

108. Mutasim Ali, poet and writer

109. Afzal Hossain, activist

110. Emran Hossain Zuberi, employee

111. Khokon Das, writer and journalist

112. Professor Dr. Kazi Rakibul Islam

113. Shahinur Akhter Shahin, film activist.

114. Abdul Majid Antar, activist

115. Ashraf Jewel, poet, fiction writer and physician, editor of Purba Paschim

116. Mizanur Rahman Mizan, researcher and activist

117. Sushant Sinha Suman, member secretary, Democratic Workers’ Movement

118. Nilufar Yasmin Shilpi, general secretary, Bangladesh Women’s Liberation Center

119. Tahmina Yasmin Nila, political activist

120. Tawfiqa Priya, president (acting), Revolutionary Student-Youth Movement

121. Rakibul Haider, poet and fiction writer

122. Dr. Sajjadul Bari Leon, Researcher and Activist

123. Deepa Rani, Member, Mironzilla Land Protection Committee

124. Arunabh Ashraf, Student

125. Sajid-ul-Islam, Painter

126. Fattah Siam, Activist

127. Jannatul Mawa, Activist, Alokchi

128. Rabeya Muhib, Student, Rajshahi University

129. Nabanita Roy, Student and Activist, Rajshahi University

130. Taslima Akhter, Organizing Secretary, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Kendra

131. Manas Nandi, President, Bangladesh Workers’ Federation

132. Biplob Bhattacharya, Convener, Biplob Workers’ Movement

133. Iqbal Khan, Cultural Activist

134. Jane Roman Rosario Talukder, Member, Garment Workers’ Liberation Movement

135. Kamruzzaman Ripon, Development Activist

136. Sadiq Mohammad Alam, Writer and Technology Consultant

137. Rahman Mufiz, Poet

138. Rafsan Ahmed, Film Activist

139. Badhan Adhikari, Journalist

140. Moshfeq Ara Shimul, Human Rights Activist

141. Ferdous Ara Rumi, Poet and Rights Activist

142. Kaushik Ahmed, Activist

143. Tanmoy Karmakar, Engineer

144. Mostafa Farooq, Former Student Leader

145. Mojibul Haque Arju, Convener, Health Service Forum

146. Abdul Wadud, Agriculturist

147. Zafar Iqbal, Student

148. Syed Babul, Activist,

149. Matiur Rahman, Businessman

150. Siddiqur Rahman Kamal, Businessman

151. Rezzakul Chowdhury, Employee

152. Shahriar Bin Ali, Lawyer

153. Bablu Khandaker, Activist

154. Akhtar Sobhan Masrur, Former Student Leader of the 90s

155. Dhrubajyoti Hor, Educationist

156. Saeed Ahmed, Human Rights Activist

157. Abdullah Zafar, Human Rights Activist

158. Aklima Ferdous Lisa, Human Rights Activist

159. Nuhu Abdullah, Journalist and Human Rights Activist

160. Hana Ahmed, Researcher

161. Dolan Probha, Poet and Writer

162. Tajwar Mahmid, journalist and development activist

163. Mahbubur Rahman, dental surgeon

164. Dr. Taufiqul Amin Haven, physician

165. Fahima Kaniz Lava, journalist

166. Trisha Barua, journalist

167. Sudipto Biswas, writer and activist

168. Palash Kanti Nag, lawyer

169. Ahsan Ahmed, artist

170. Emel Haque, producer

171. Emran Hossain Zuberi, official in private textile

172. Luvana Tabassum, private employee

173. Ainul Haque, activist

174. Tariq Imam, private employee

175. Engineer Mosharraf Hossain

176. Advocate Bishumoy Deb

177. Kamal Hossain Badal, convener, Samaj Chinta Forum

178. Ekram Hossain, former student leader

179. Naeem ul Hasan, curator and archivist

180. Mahbub Aziz, journalist and writer

181. Sayrat Salekin, writer and researcher

182. Kazi Maruful Islam, professor, Department of Development Studies, University of Dhaka

183. Mir Mosharraf Hossain, journalist, former student leader

184. Suman Sengupta, lawyer and former student leader

185. Tuhin Kanti Das, artist, cultural organizer and former student leader

186. Sakhawat Fahad, journalist and former student leader

187. Tanmoy Pal, journalist and former student leader

188. Syeda Neelima Dola, producer, cultural organizer and political activist

189. Mahbub Alam, political activist

190. Aziz Ahmed, journalist

191. Surya Palash, lawyer and former student leader

192. Touhid Tipu, former student leader

193. Maruf Billah Tanmoy, former student leader

194. Kazi Roksana Ruma, artist and cultural organizer

195. Rumi Probha, artist and cultural organizer

196. Anwarul Haque, former student leader

197. Abdullah Mahmud Khan, former student leader

198. Mahathir Mohammad, journalist and former student leader

199. Shamsul Arif Fahim, student and rights activist

200. Taseen Mallick, journalist and former student leader

201. Raju Sahajiya, artist

202. Amirul Rajib, photographer

203. Abu Tarek Sohel, poet and former student leader

204. Kafil Uddin Shanto, lawyer and former student leader

205. Ariful Islam Nadim, rickshaw-worker leader

206. Jamshed Anwar Tapan, cultural organizer

207. Akhtar Sobhan Masrur, former student leader of the 90s

208. Ashrafi Neetu, former student leader

209. Marzia Prova, activist

210. Ferdous Ahmed, cultural organizer