An Islamic extremist group launched a violent assault on indigenous minority students protesting the removal of references to the term “Adivasi” from school textbooks. The term “Adivasi” is a unified label for several ethnic minority groups in the country.
The incident occurred as the indigenous minority students, rallying under the banner of Agitated Adivasi Students, were on their way to the Secretariat. They were met with heavy-handed police resistance, including water cannons and batons. This violent attack is not an isolated event but part of a broader “culture of impunity” that has emboldened extremist forces in Bangladesh.
The extremist group behind the attack, ‘Students for Sovereignty’, has gained notoriety for inciting protests on various issues, often targeting secular values and minority rights. The group had previously disrupted Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus’s address to the nation on August 25, claiming his use of the term “Adivasi” was “anti-state.” They demanded Yunus either apologize or resign.
This group has also organized demonstrations demanding capital punishment for alleged blasphemy, justice for a Muslim lawyer’s death, and the enforcement of hijab policies. Their rise has been fueled by a lack of accountability and growing religious fundamentalism.
The recent turmoil began when an illustration on the back cover of a Bengali grammar textbook for ninth and tenth graders, which featured the term “Adivasi,” was removed from the digital edition. The artwork depicted a tree with leaves representing Bangladesh’s religious and ethnic diversity – Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, and Adivasi. The phrase “Tearing leaves is prohibited” accompanied the image.
Following protests by ‘Students for Sovereignty’ on January 12, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) removed the artwork overnight. In response, Agitated Adivasi Students called for a siege of the NCTB building on Wednesday, coinciding with a counter-siege announced by Students for Sovereignty.
During the clashes, indigenous students faced severe violence, including baton charges. The unrest spilled into Thursday when indigenous students marched toward the home ministry, only to be blocked by police near the Shikkha Bhaban. Attempts to push forward were met with water cannons and further beatings.
The attack left numerous students injured, with three requiring critical care. Among them:
- Rupaiya Shrestha Tanchangya, 24, an ethnic minority student leader, suffered severe head injuries, requiring 12 stitches.
- Don Jetra, who attempted to shield Rupaiya, sustained fractures in both arms.
- Jewel Marak, a journalist with DBC News, was also critically injured.
Footage from the scene revealed the brutal nature of the assault, with attackers repeatedly striking Rupaiya with cricket stumps and sticks.
This incident marks a dark chapter for indigenous communities in Bangladesh, particularly in Dhaka. Although the Chittagong Hill Tracts have long been the site of human rights violations against ethnic minorities, this is the first time such a brutal attack on indigenous students has occurred in the capital.
The violence has sparked widespread condemnation, with human rights activists and civil society groups warning of dire consequences if extremist forces continue to operate unchecked. Critics accuse the interim government and Bangladesh Army or Police of failing to take appropriate action to protect the secular fabric of Bangladesh and the rights of indigenous communities.
The rise of extremist ideologies not only endangers minority groups but also threatens the country’s stability. A unified effort to uphold secularism and human rights is essential to counter the growing threat. For now, the question remains: will the government act decisively, or will the culture of impunity continue to embolden those who seek to destabilize the nation?
