Several people were injured in a clash between two student groups over the use of the term “indigenous” in school textbooks, in front of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) office in Dhaka’s Motijheel on Wednesday.
Motijheel Police Station Inspector (Investigation) Mohimenul Islam said the ethnic minority protesters dispersed after members of the ‘Students for Sovereignty’ group chased them, and the situation is now under control.
Nine of the injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH). They are: Srestha Rupaiya (24), Isaba Suhrat (25), Rengiyang Mro (27), Futonto Chakma (22), Dhanjetra (28), Ananto Dhama (35), journalist Jewel Mark (35), Shoilee (27), and Danwai Mro (24).
The clash reportedly began over the removal of an artwork containing the word “indigenous” from the online version of the ninth and tenth-grade Bengali grammar book.
On January 12, a group of students under the banner ‘Students for Sovereignty’ protested at the NCTB, leading to the removal of the artwork.
In response, the group ‘Aggrieved Indigenous Students and People’ announced a demonstration to besiege the NCTB office on Wednesday. Simultaneously, ‘Students for Sovereignty’ also planned a protest at the same location.
Witnesses said both groups gathered in front of the NCTB office on Wednesday and began protesting separately. The situation escalated around 1 pm, leading to a clash following an altercation.
Both groups accused each other of initiating the violence. Olik Mri, a leader of the ethnic minority students’ group, said, “Students for Sovereignty attacked us, injuring 11 of our members.”
Meanwhile, Ziaul Islam, the convener of ‘Students for Sovereignty’, alleged, “The ethnic minority students launched an attack on us, leaving 14 of our members injured.”