Extremists launch brutal attack on indigenous students and rights activists in Bangladesh

Sanjoy Kumar Barua

An extremist group supporting the removal of an indigenous-themed artwork from the school textbooks attacked protesting indigenous students and rights activists outside the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) in Bangladesh.

The clash, which erupted around 1:00 PM, left at least 13 indigenous students and activists injured, some severely, eyewitnesses reported.

The violence occurred after indigenous students rallied under the banner Aggrieved Indigenous Students to protest the removal of the artwork from the ninth and tenth-grade Bengali grammar textbook.

The artwork depicted a tree with five leaves, labeled Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, and Indigenous, alongside the message, “Leaf-tearing prohibited.”

Following pressure from fanatics student group, affiliated with Dhaka University, the NCTB removed the artwork from the textbook’s online version on January 12.

The aggrieved indigenous students group held an assembly at the Raju Memorial Sculpture at Dhaka University before marching to the NCTB building.

Meanwhile, the fanatics group already gathered outside the NCTB office, chanting slogans opposing the indigenous group’s demands.

When the two groups confronted each other, police formed a barricade to maintain order.

However, tensions escalated, and a scuffle broke out.

According to witnesses, a faction of the extremist group armed with sticks and rods charged at the indigenous protestors, injuring several.

The injured included Ananta Dhamai, Indigenous leader; Tony Chiran, youth activist; Reng Young Mro, vice president of the hill student council; Isaba Suhrat, rights activist; Rupaiya Srestha Tanchaongya, anti-discrimination student leader; and Jewel Marak, journalist.

The attackers continued to occupy the NCTB premises even after the indigenous students retreated toward Daily Bangla intersection.

Alik Mree, leader of the aggrieved indigenous students, stated, “We were attacked by extremists who oppose our rightful demands. Thirteen of our members are injured, and many were severely beaten.”

At the earlier rally, Mree criticized the NCTB, saying, “They have succumbed to pressure from separatist ideologues who claim we threaten the sovereignty of Bangladesh. We demand equal recognition as citizens and the reinstatement of the artwork that represented inclusivity.”

Speaking anonymously, a settler group leader from CHT argued that, the term indigenous is constitutionally inappropriate in the Bangladeshi context.

He claimed, “The inclusion of such terms and imagery undermines national unity and could pave the way for autonomy claims, threatening our sovereignty. We demand its permanent removal from textbooks.”

The sentiment aligns with a broader argument presented by most of the settler groups in CHT, citing clauses from the 2007 UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which they claim challenges state control over indigenous regions.

The attack has sparked outrage among indigenous rights organizations and student movements who condemned the assault, demanding the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved.

Nationwide demonstrations are planned for January 16, followed by a siege of the Chief Advisor’s residence on January 17 to demand justice and the reinstatement of the artwork, said Alik Mree.