Mostafizur Rahman, secretary of the Islami Chhatra Shibir unit at Jahangirnagar University, has called for the “annihilation” of Leftists, Shahbagh activists, Chhayanaut, and Udichi, saying this was necessary to achieve what he described as the “true independence” of Bangladesh. He made the remarks during a rally held on Thursday night, December 18, following the death of Sharif Osman Hadi, spokesperson of the Inqilab Manch.
Speaking at the rally near the university’s Shaheed Minar after a protest march that began around 11:00 pm from Bottola, Mostafizur Rahman said political struggle alone could not bring independence and called for what he described as a “cultural struggle.” The march included leaders and members of Chhatra Shibir, JACS, Chhatra Shakti, the Anti-Hegemony Platform, and other student organisations.
During his speech, the Chhatra Shibir leader also called for the severing of diplomatic relations with India, demanded the expulsion of Indians working in Bangladesh within 24 hours, and accused former prime minister Sheikh Hasina of orchestrating violence against activists even from abroad. Video clips of his speech later circulated widely on social media, drawing criticism from various quarters.
Following the backlash, Mostafizur Rahman issued posts on Facebook later on Friday, clarifying his remarks. He wrote that his reference to “annihilation” or “shattering” did not mean vandalism, but rather the dismantling of what he called hegemonic narratives through “systematic and institutional means.” He said some of his wording was chosen hastily due to the situation, but maintained that Islami Chhatra Shibir would continue its struggle through organised methods.
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 