Razakar slogans
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On 14 July 2024, during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, then-Prime minster Sheikh Hasina made a comment related to protests during a press conference. Protesters claimed that Hasina indirectly called them as Razakars and chanted a series of slogans. This was a turning point of the July Revolution.
Background
On 14 July, during a press conference following her state visit to China, Hasina responded to a question about the protests stating,
If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of the Razakars? That's my question to the countrymen.[1]
Incidents
In response to Sheikh Hasina's comment, in the early hours of 15 July,[2] students began using slogans such as,
তুমি কে? আমি কে?
রাজাকার, রাজাকার।
কে বলেছে? কে বলেছে?
স্বৈরাচার, স্বৈরাচার!
lit. 'Who are you? Who am I?
Razakar, Razakar.
Who said it? Who said it?
Autocrat, Autocrat!'.[3]
Protesters argued that Hasina’s statement indirectly labelled them as "Razakars" and demeaned them for advocating for quota reform, which led them to adopt the slogan.[4]
Reactions
- Bangladeshi scientist and writer Muhammed Zafar Iqbal said, “Dhaka University is my university, my beloved university. However, I think I would never want to visit this university again. Whenever I see the students, I will think they might be the Rajakars.”[5]
References
- ^ "How PM Hasina's 'razakar' barb became catchword of Bangladesh protests; here's what it means". WION. 20 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
- ^ "'We are Razakars': What is this loaded term used by student protesters that has irked Bangladesh govt?". Firstpost. 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Who were the Razakars and why are they central to Bangladesh protests?". Al Jazeera. 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
- ^ "Students demand PM withdraw comment on quota reform protesters". Dhaka Tribune. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
- ^ "'I don't want to go to Dhaka University anymore'". The Daily Star. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2025-03-01.