An anti-drug rally has been held involving the accused in the murder case of the anti-discrimination student movement and public representatives supported by the fallen Awami League government. There is a storm of discussion and criticism on social media regarding this.

The day-long anti-drug rally was held at Balaka Udyan in Boro Khochabari area of Jagnathpur Union of Sadar Upazila on Monday (June 30).

The anti-drug rally was attended by the chairman and members of the union councils supported by the Awami League (programs banned). Among them were the president of the Ruhia Union Awami League and the accused in the case, the UP chairman, Chairman Monirul Haque Babu, the IT research secretary of the Ruhia Thana Awami League, the accused in the case and the chairman of the Dholarhat Union Parishad, Akhil Chandra Roy, the Awami League-supported chairman of the Chilarang Union Parishad, Faizul Rahman, and the UP member of the Auliapur Union Parishad and the general secretary of the Union Awami League, Sachin Chandra, among others. During this time, the accused in the case and the Awami League leaders also spoke in front of the senior administration officials. After the rally, a banquet and cultural program were organized.

The anti-drug rally, chaired by Thakurgaon Sadar Upazila Executive Officer (UNO) Md. Khairul Islam, was attended by the chief guests, Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ishrat Farzana, special guests Superintendent of Police (SP) Sheikh Zahidul Islam, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station Sarwar Alam Khan, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Bhulli Police Station Saiful Islam Sarkar, as well as chairmen, UP members, secretaries and members of village police of 22 unions.

On the other hand, there has been a stir on social media regarding the administration’s rally against the killers of students and the people during the mass uprising in July-August. Facebook user Himel wrote, “Today, the Thakurgaon Upazila administration organized an anti-drug rally to bring together various leaders of the banned organization AL and accused in multiple cases. Congratulations to everyone….” Many people protested by making various comments on his post.

A person named Khoka said, “I think this is not an anti-drug rally, it is a gathering of the chairman and members of the banned Awami League.” Before holding this rally, the Sadar UNO should have thought about who he is going to hold this rally with. All but a few of those who participated in this rally worked against the students and the public in July-August for the fallen Awami League, ordering killings. Some of them are accused in cases. After knowing so much, how did the senior administration officials eat at the same table with them and hold a rally?

He further said, “The District Magistrate or UNO may not have identified the accused in the case, but the police know them. Why did they participate in the rally with the accused? They also ate at the same table, laughing and joking.”

Another person, who did not want to be named, said, “It’s hard to imagine that less than a year after the mass uprising, active leaders of the Awami League would be seen in public with the police and administration. Was this an anti-drug rally or a gathering of members and chairmen of the tyrannical Awami League? Or was it to create an opportunity for their rehabilitation? Did our sons and daughters shed blood on the streets just to see this?”

Some students said that they saw many discrepancies in the list of fighters of the July movement. Meanwhile, we are disappointed with the administration’s event with Awami League friends. We made a mistake by going to the movement without listening to our family. I was injured and lay in bed for a long time and spent days and nights being threatened by Awami League friends. The administration’s event with Awami League friends is nothing but making Awami League active in the field again. We strongly protest and condemn it.

In this regard, Khairul Islam, president of the anti-drug rally and Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO), told reporters that the police and the court can say whether the names of those being mentioned are accused or not. No court papers have arrived in the upazila so far. People are looking at them differently, if the government still keeps them in office, then the UNO has nothing to do.