Sunday, January 26, 2025

Press & Public Statement: JMBF Denounces Police Brutality on Peaceful Assembly by Ibtedayi Teachers in Dhaka

Paris, France; January 26, 2025: France-based human rights organization, JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), expresses its deepest concern and strongest condemnation of the violent police assault on peaceful Ibtedayi teacher protesters at Shahbagh, Dhaka, today, January 26, 2025. The brutal use of batons, sound grenades, water cannons, and tear gas against Ibtedayi teachers—six of whom, including one woman, were injured—constitutes a blatant violation of human rights, Bangladesh’s Constitution, and international human rights standards.

JMBF asserts that the Ibtedayi teachers, under the Ibtedayi Madrasa Teachers' Unity Alliance, were peacefully marching to demand the nationalization of their jobs and the implementation of a six-point demand, a legitimate cause recognized by recommendations from the Dhaka University Institute of Education and Research. This peaceful demonstration was met with unprovoked violence by the authorities, which is unacceptable in a democratic society.

Advocate Shahanur Islam, Bangladeshi human rights lawyer, and Founder President of JMBF, stated, “The brutality perpetrated by the police is not just an attack on the teachers—it is an attack on the very principles enshrined in the Constitution of Bangladesh. Article 37 of the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly, while Article 39 protects freedom of expression. The Ibtedayi teachers were exercising these fundamental rights, yet their voices were silenced with violence.”

Robert Simon, a prominent French human rights activist and Chief Adviser of JMBF, added, “The right to peaceful assembly is protected under Article 20(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Globally, as a signatory to these international agreements, Bangladesh is obligated to uphold these rights. However, the police brutality against the Ibtedayi teachers at Shahbagh stands as a stark violation of these commitments.”

JMBF asserts that the use of excessive force contravenes Article 35(5) of the Constitution of Bangladesh, which categorically prohibits torture or inhuman and degrading treatment. Internationally, this principle is echoed in Article 5 of the UDHR, Article 7 of the ICCPR, and the Convention Against Torture (CAT), to which Bangladesh is a party. Law enforcement’s violent response to peaceful protesters is a clear breach of these legal and moral standards.

JMBF believes that the teachers’ demands are not unreasonable—they include nationalizing independent madrasas, creating clear policies for their operation, and ensuring basic employment benefits akin to those provided to primary school teachers. Yet their pleas have been met with indifference, and now, violence.

JMBF also considers that what happened in Shahbagh against Ibtedayi teachers is not just a failure of law enforcement—it is a failure of justice, humanity, and democracy. The government of Bangladesh must reaffirm its commitment to its Constitution and international treaties. The right to peaceful assembly is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right that must be safeguarded at all costs.

A Call for Justice

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) condemns this brutality in the strongest possible terms. We call on the government to:

  1. Launch an Independent Investigation: Investigate the excessive use of force, identify the perpetrators, and ensure accountability.
  2. Provide Immediate Medical Support: Cover the medical expenses of the injured teachers and offer compensation for their suffering.
  3. Ensure Adequate Financial Compensation: Promptly provide financial compensation to the victims of police violence.
  4. Uphold Constitutional and International Obligations: Ensure that the rights to peaceful assembly and expression are respected and protected.
  5. Engage in Dialogue: Open meaningful discussions with Ibtedayi teachers to address their six-point demands and resolve their grievances peacefully.

JMBF also urges the international community to take note of these events and hold Bangladesh accountable for protecting the rights of its citizens.

Our Commitment

JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) stands in solidarity with the injured Ibtedayi teachers and all those peacefully advocating for their rights.

The struggle for justice is far from over, but we stand firm in the belief that truth and accountability will prevail. Let this be a moment of reflection and reform—a chance for Bangladesh to live up to its promise of democracy and equality for all.

Thank you,








Mosa. Jannatul Ferdaus
Chief Coordinator & Member of the Executive Committee
JusticeMakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF)
107 Rue Gallieni, 93000 Bobigny, France

Fact in Brief (According to News Published on Several Newspapers in Bangladesh):

Six Ibtedayi Teachers Injured Due to Police Baton Charge During Peaceful Demonstration at Shahbagh, Dhaka

On Sunday, January 26, 2025, at around 12:40 PM, six Ibtedayi teachers, including one woman, were injured after police used batons and sound grenades during a protest near Shahbagh police station in Dhaka. The teachers were demanding the nationalization of their jobs. Police also used water cannons to disperse the protesters.

The injured teachers were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the afternoon. The injured include Anwar Hossain (35), Faridul Islam (30), Aminul (35), Mizanur Rahman (35), Bindu Ghosh, and Marufa Akhtar (25). All of them have been identified as Ibtedayi teachers.

Earlier in the morning, the Ibtedayi Madrasa Teachers' Unity Alliance held a sit-in in front of the National Press Club to press for their six-point demands, including the nationalization of independent Ibtedayi madrasas, as recommended by the Dhaka University Institute of Education and Research. The teachers had planned to march to the Chief Advisor’s Office to submit a memorandum.

As the protesters marched from the Press Club through Dhaka University and reached Shahbagh police station, the police used water cannons and sound grenades. When the protesters tried to break through a police barricade near the National Museum to reach the Chief Advisor’s Office, the police used batons, tear gas shells, and water cannons to disperse them.

Belayet Hossain, the head teacher of Dopdobia Sheikhbagol Madrasa from Jhalokati, said at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, “We had been holding a sit-in in front of the Press Club since the 19th to demand the nationalization of independent Ibtedayi madrasas. On our way to submit a memorandum to the Chief Advisor’s Office today, police launched an unprovoked attack on us with water cannons, sound grenades, and batons in Shahbagh. Six teachers, including one woman, were injured and brought here for treatment.”

Inspector Md. Faruk, in charge of the Dhaka Medical Police Camp, stated that the injured teachers are currently undergoing treatment in the emergency department.

Md. Asaduzzaman, Inspector (Investigation) of Shahbagh Police Station, said that the situation is now under control. “A sufficient number of police personnel are stationed in Shahbagh. The protesters are scattered across various areas of Shahbagh and Dhaka University,” he added.

**************************************************************

JMBF is an independent non-profit, nonpartisan human rights organization registered in France with registration number W931027714 under the association law of 1901, dedicated to defending human rights, fighting for justice, and empowering communities in Bangladesh and beyond.

No comments:

Post a Comment