On August 12, 2024, the army baton-charged graffiti artists in Khagrachari, a region in the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh. This incident has sparked concern among students actively engaged in rebuilding the nation.
On August 5, following a robust student-led Quota Movement, the Awami League government was ousted from power. An Interim Government, led by Nobel Laureate Dr. Yunus, assumed control on August 8.
In the wake of these events, students were empowered to shape the country as they envisioned. They immediately took action to improve the nation, managing traffic, cleaning streets and markets, and even expressing their creativity through graffiti.
Alongside these efforts, students are also protecting Hindu temples, homes, and Christian churches, as these minority communities have faced severe attacks since the fall of the Awami League government.
Moreover, students are striving to build an equal society free from discrimination. In a country where Muslims are the majority, non-Muslims have historically faced significant challenges.
The once dirty walls are now transformed into dreamlike canvases by the students’ graffiti work. However, the situation in the Chittagong Hill Tracts remains tense, as the area has long been under military control. Today, while students were creating their graffiti, they were met with force.
Students immediately organized a massive protest rally in Khagrachari. Thousands of students joined and chanted the slogan to be free from military rule.
The fall of the Awami League government is considered by many as a second independence, a moment of celebration across the country. Yet, for the indigenous people of the Chittagong Hill Tracts and other minorities, such as Hindus, the situation remains unchanged. The attacks on Hindus and the military rule in the hills persist.
In the past week, many Hindus have fled to India as refugees, and students in the hills have faced violence. For the minorities in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, the promise of change remains elusive.
The path to true freedom and equality remains long and uncertain, but the determination of these young students is a light of hope in the struggle for justice.
