Once again the coordinators placed their four demands at the press conference. The four demands are: restoration of internet service; withdrawal of curfew; withdrawal of law enforcement agencies from campuses, opening of dormitories and ensuring a congenial atmosphere for the return of students; and ensuring security to coordinators of the movement.
Earlier, the coordinators of the movement gave the government a two-day ultimatum to meet these demands. Before that, they met the three ministers at the state guesthouse, Padma, on 19 July night where they placed their eight-point demands.
At Tuesday’s press conference, one of the coordinators of the movement, Sarjis Alam said, “We had informed the government’s representative about the eight-point demand. And then, we informed them about four urgent demands two days ago. If these four demands are not met, there is no option to talk about the eight-point demands.”
“We are yet to receive any response despite the two-day ultimatum and we are giving another two-day ultimatum to meet our demands. We want the government to create a congenial atmosphere on campuses by talking to the university authorities by Thursday so that students can return to campuses on Friday. When we would announce the end of our movement entirely depends on the government,” he added.
Sarjis Alam further said the attitude that the government is showing now, and the sensitive remarks that several ministers of the government are making now, had they done it before the situation would never have come to this far. The damage that was inflicted on numerous families will, in fact, never be possible to fulfil.
This coordinator of the movement also said he is going through a state of fear of being arrested, picked up and tortured physically and mentally round-the-clock.
The government cannot avoid its responsibility for the loss of lives and the damage of properties caused by mayhem and arson, another coordinator Hasnat Abdullah said.
Speaking at Tuesday’s press conference, he said people involved in killing protesting students must be brought to justice within the shortest possible time. The movement started in front of the Dhaka University library and they want to end it there, but, for this, the government must create a fair environment, he added.
