Despite of the relexation of the curfew, there was no crowd of people in the Shapla Chattar area of Rangpur city on July 27, 2024 at noon. Photo : BSS

By Md Mamun Islam

RANGPUR, July 26, 2025 (BSS) - Amidst an indefinite curfew and mass arrests, intelligence agencies put intense pressure on student coordinators to withdraw the movement in Rangpur on July 27, 2024, to secure the throne of the fascist regime.

Since the killing of Begum Rokeya University student Abu Sayeed on July 16, thousands of people, including teachers, guardians, women, and cultural activists, have joined the student-public movement to ring the final bell of the fascist regime led by Sheikh Hasina.

High-ranking officials of the divisional and district administration, Rangpur Range DIG Office, Rangpur Metropolitan Police, and intelligence agencies continued to demonstrate their loyalty to the fascist regime by making the lives of student coordinators miserable.

Under such a situation, the then fascist regime continued mass arrests to suppress the anti-discrimination student movement, alongside relaxing the curfew in Rangpur division for 15 hours on the eighth day of the curfew on July 27 last year.

The then Rangpur Divisional Commissioner Md Zakir Hossain informed journalists on July 26 (Friday) night that the curfew would be relaxed in all eight districts of Rangpur division from 6 am to 9 pm on Saturday (July 27).

He clarified that the curfew would be relaxed from 6 am to 9 pm, that is, 15 hours, on July 27 in Panchagarh, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Nilphamari, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, and Rangpur districts of Rangpur division.

"Like other days, on Saturday (July 27) too, BGB, police, RAB, and Ansar members will work in the field with the army to ensure security," the then Divisional Commissioner said.

He urged everyone to stay at home except during the relaxed hours, considering the security of the people and the state.

The then Rangpur Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mobasswer Hasan told local journalists on July 27 that apart from the army, BGB, police, RAB, and Ansar members were working to maintain law and order across the district.

"Joint force patrols have been strengthened in the entire district to avoid any untoward incident. Many people in the Rangpur metropolis came out of their homes to do essential work," he claimed.

The then Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Moniruzzaman alleged on the day that miscreants who infiltrated the students' movement carried out violence in institutions, establishments, and business buildings in Rangpur city on July 16, 18, and 19.

"In three days, miscreants burned down Tajhat Police Station, the DB office, Nababganj Police Outpost, and police boxes, offices of the Awami League, Chhatra League, and Sramik League, Fisheries, Livestock, Family Planning Office, and Muktijoddha Bhaban," he alleged.

He also alleged, "They burned down RAB-BGB and police vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, and auto-rickshaws and looted everything from Tajhat Police Station, including motorcycles and rickshaws, computers, evidence of the case, and the trunk of the force."

During this time, miscreants allegedly vandalized and looted the main gate of Rangpur City Corporation, CCTV cameras, the Liberation War memorial sculpture, Sonali Bank, Zilla Parishad Community Market, as well as various road dividers of the Traffic Police, and Dhap Police outposts in various places in the city.

He also alleged that the miscreants tried to attack the prison, District Police Lines, Traffic Office, Circuit House, and DC-SP's bungalows.

"In addition, attempts were made to vandalize and loot various establishments, including the Sonali Bank booth and 'Arjon' Sculpture," he alleged.

He informed that 175 people were arrested in 12 cases in these incidents till the morning of July 26. Investigations were underway into the money providers and supporters. Many of the perpetrators were identified.

Meanwhile, as part of the diversion from the murder of martyr Abu Sayeed, the administration took Abu Sayeed's family members to Rajarbagh Police Lines in Dhaka on July 27 to arrange a meeting with fascist Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the next day.

"Abu Sayeed's father Md Mokbul Hossain, mother Monwara Begum, brother Abu Hossain, sister Sumi Akhter, and sister-in-law Sabina Akhter are currently at Rajarbagh Police Lines," former Begum Rokeya University Proctor Shariful Islam told reporters on July 27 (Saturday).

He said the then Prime Minister was not only scheduled to meet Abu Sayeed's family, but also the families of all those killed in the quota movement at Ganabhaban on July 28 (Saturday).

Abu Sayeed's cousin Ruhul Amin said that Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mobasswer Hasan and district administration officials came to Sayeed's house on July 26 and asked his parents to go to Dhaka to meet Sheikh Hasina.

"Abu Sayeed's family members left their house located in Babanpur village of Pirganj upazila for Dhaka at 8:40 am on July 27 (Saturday)," he said.

Talking to BSS, a leading Begum Rokeya University student coordinator and fellow fighter of martyr Abu Sayeed, Shamsur Rahman Suman said that they were under intense pressure from intelligence agencies in those days to withdraw the movement.

At that time, the internet service was down, making it almost impossible for students to communicate with each other. Intelligence personnel and law enforcement officers were chasing the student coordinators.

The fascist regime, police, and the terrorists of Awami League created a reign of terror by threatening mass arrests and forced disappearances of revolutionary students in Rangpur city.

"The intelligence agencies put immense pressure on us to withdraw the movement and make the decision public to avoid the threat of arrest and lead a normal life," Suman said.

"We never bowed to any pressure under any circumstances and firmly believed that the fall of fascism was certain," he added.