Writer and online activist Pinaki Bhattacharya has called for turning the Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) office in Purana Paltan into the “headquarters of the revolutionary student-people’s uprising” as a counter to a mass rally organized by eight organizations demanding justice for murder, rape, and oppression, as well as the removal of the home affairs adviser.
Pinaki Bhattacharya shared this information through a post on his social media platform Facebook account on Friday at midnight.
The poster shared by Pinaki lists the organizations involved in the mass rally: Bangladesh Students’ Union, Bangladesh Youth Union, Socialist Students’ Front, Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), Pahari Chhatra Parishad, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, Charan Cultural Center, Central Khelaghar Asar, Socialist Women’s Forum, Bangladesh Landless Peasants’ Association, and Bangladesh Trade Union Center (TUC).
According to a press release from former Bangladesh Students’ Union President Lucky Akhter, the mass rally is scheduled to start at 11am on Saturday from the Central Shaheed Minar, pass through the Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor’s residence area, and conclude at TSC. In response to this program, Pinaki Bhattacharya made two Facebook posts.
In a post at midnight, he wrote: “Tomorrow, this program has been organized by CPB’s MM Akash-Ruhin Hossain Prince faction, along with BASAD (Bajlur Rashid Firoz) and Jana Sanghati Samiti (Santu Larma). They are fronting Laki Akhter as the face of it.
“Tomorrow at 10:30am, the forces supporting the mass uprising will peacefully surround the CPB office in Purana Paltan. We will demand accountability for 15 years of CPB’s support for Hasina’s government and their involvement in the Shahbagh movement. Tomorrow, we will turn the CPB office in Purana Paltan into the revolutionary student-people’s headquarters. Let’s march to Purana Paltan! Surround the CPB office! Long live the revolution!”
Shortly after, in another post, he added: “There are some shops in the CPB office building at Purana Paltan. There is no need to worry. Your ownership remains yours. For temporary inconvenience, one month’s rent will be waived. From the following month, until further notice, the equivalent rent amount should be donated to the July Foundation with a receipt. We advise you not to open your shops tomorrow. Your safety is our responsibility.”
Liberty News’ city correspondent reports that meanwhile, Bangladesh Udichi Shilpigoshthi, mentioned in the poster, denied involvement. Udichi’s Central General Secretary Jamshed Anwar Tapon issued a press release on Saturday night, stating: “The organizers did not contact Udichi. Therefore, Udichi has no connection with this program.”
LND/NE
