JOF launches mass-signature campaign protesting Abrar murder

Jatiya Oikyafront on Wednesday launched a mass-signature campaign protesting the killing of Buet student Abrar Fahad.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal President ASM Abdur Rob inaugurated the campaign in front of the Jatiya Press Club by signing on a cloth sheet with his blood, reports UNB.

Later, other senior leaders of the alliance also signed on it with red colour.

Abrar Fahad, 21, a resident of Sher-e-Bangla Hall of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), was beaten to death reportedly by some Chhatra League leaders and activists of the university unit on October 7 last.

Speaking at the programme, Abdur Rob said the trial of Abrar murder is still not initiated while Chhatra League has continued its repression in different educational institutions, including Jahangirnagar University.

He said they will collect signatures from people of all walks of life and students across the country.

Once the campaign is over, Rob said they will submit a copy of the signatures to parliament, different foreign missions and international organisations.

He said Oikyafront Convener Dr Kamal Hossain could not attend the programme due to his illness, but he earlier put his signature at his Motijheel chamber.

Rob said Chhatra League activists have been repressing people and students throughout the country as the student body has turned into an organisation of ‘hooligans’.

“The government is still there in power by snatching people’s rights and independence. It won’t be able to hang onto power using the hoodlums. The government in Lebanon has to quit in the face of a mass movement, this government will also face the same fate,” he added.

Gonoforum general secretary Reza Kibria said their signature campaign programme is not only against the murder of Abrar, but also against all the political killings. “We observed the similar programme after the murder of my father Shah AMS Kibria.”

He said they want to complete campaign by December 16 so that they can display all the signatures in front of the Jatiya Sangsad on the last day of this year.