CHATTOGRAM, Sept 1 , 2024 (BSS) – ‘I have no pain, even though my son was injured by police firing in the anti-discrimination student movement. We got rid of a dictatorial government in exchange of their sufferings and sacrifices’.

This is an expression of one Surat Alam, father of Tauhid Islam Tanveer, student of Chattogram University (CU) International Relations Department and a fighter of the anti-discrimination student movement, injured in police firing.

 Tauhid Islam Tanveer has been undergoing treatment at Chattogram Medical College hospital for last 26 days.

He was injured by police firing at city’s WASA intersection in Dampara on August 3 last. His village home in Ramu Upazila under Cox’s Bazaar district.

While narrating his sad memories to BSS lying in a hospital bed Tanveer said the government was depriving the talented students in the name of quota system, so that they have been struggling for a  logical solution since  July 1.

“At the end of the student life, the talented students did not get job opportunities in their proper places, that is why we had started our movement in the streets for our golden future.

 Although it started on July 1, but from mid-July the  students of all levels across the country rose up against this discrimination,” he added.

He said the movement in CU, as like the students of Dhaka University and other public-private universities in Dhaka, gradually gained momentum.

“We were trying to draw the attention of the government by holding regular peaceful meetings and demonstrations,”  Tanveer said.

He said, "We were in regular contact with the co-coordinators  of Dhaka and we were also holding simultaneous programs in our university.

  Along with us, students and parents of various schools and colleges of Chattogram region and common people also joined the movement.

Naturally, we became more hopeful to have the huge masses of the country on our side.

When the entire country is in turmoil and after the announcement of Bangla blockade program from the center, we decided to hold Bangla blockade in Chattogram based on consensus from CU”.
 
He said hundreds of students took a train from CU to Sholoshahar rail station and started the procession.

“When we reached Dampara, the police started firing and throwing tear shells on us. Numerous rubber bullets fired by the police pierced my legs and body.

 The leaders of the movement brought me to the hospital in a bloody state.

 I am still under treatment in the hospital,” he said.

Tanveer said, the dictatorial Sheikh Hasina government fell in the face of our movement two days after this.

An interim government was formed under the leadership of internationally renowned economist and Nobel laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, he mentioned.
He urged the interim government to ensure proper treatment  to  the students  attacked in this movement.
 
The government should support the families of those who died in the movement, he opined.

Tanveer also called upon the interim government of the dream of building a new Bangladesh.

"I believe that the present interim government will end the long 16 years of anarchy and present economic crisis and present a non-discriminatory society and state," he said.

 All the people of the country hoped for an equitable distribution of everything through an undifferentiated state and society and an impartial judiciary.

At the same time, one of the responsibilities of the government is to ensure the safety of life and property of all the people of the country irrespective of religion, caste and party affiliations, he added.

Terming their movement is against discrimination, Tanvir said if a non-discrimination state is established, the aspirations of all those killed and injured in the movement will be fulfilled.

Expressing satisfaction with the treatment of the injured in the movement, Tanveer said, "The interim government is showing enough sincerity in our treatment after taking charge."
 
Meanwhile, Interim Government's Religion Adviser AFM Khalid Hossain and Liberation War Adviser Faruk-e-Azam Bir Prateek, coordinators of anti-discrimination student movement Sarjis Alam and Hasnat Abdullah have come to see us at Chattogram Medical College Hospital.

Numerous leaders and activists of different political parties, our teachers, parents and conscientious people of the society have come here.

 They all spoke to us with great sympathy, inquired about our treatment.

 They talked to the doctors and gave us the necessary directions to get better treatment.
 
Tanveer, a brave soldier to build a new Bangladesh without discrimination,  thanked the Interim government, the individuals who came to see them and the  public of the country.

Terming him as a  small businessman Tanveer's father, Surat Alam said Tanveer is the fourth of my five children in my family and I am working hard to educate them.

 But even though my son was injured by the police firing in this anti-discrimination student movement, I have no grudge.

 Because of  their sufferings and sacrifices, today we are freed from this dictatorial government.

I thank the interim government for helping those injured and killed in the movement including my son, he uttered.