Three pieces of news are being widely discussed in the media. Chhatra League goons tied up the husband and gang-raped the wife of a visiting couple at Jahangirnagar University (JU). They then escaped from the campus with the help of other BCL leaders. The victims did not get much help despite going to the police.
According to another report, a bodybuilder named Farooq was killed in police custody, and the police demanded ransom from Farooq's family before killing him. While the family was unable to pay, Farooq's wife was given a lousy proposal by the police. It is to be noted that on the night of January 12, Farooq was framed in a drug case and arrested from Puran Dhaka's Nazimuddin Road. Later, he died suffering torture at Kayettuli police outpost and Banshal police station. Custodial death and harassment of the family came to the fore in the media because the Awami Police, besides murdering and arresting arbitrarily, also threatened the family members who filed cases.
The third piece of news reports the discovery of nine body parts along the banks of the Padma River in Kushtia. These nine pieces were found at four different locations. It is worth noting that the alleged mastermind behind this gruesome murder is a member of the Awami League. Despite the heinous nature of the crime, the leader was observed casually strolling through the city of Kustia. Pictures published in the media depict this proud Awami leader leading a procession, seemingly untroubled by the horrific incident.
Reading these three news stories would undoubtedly shock any healthy individual. It becomes challenging to uphold mental well-being when confronted with such distressing information in a single day. Unfortunately, this seems to be a time of Awami-Jahiliyyah (Age of Ignorance or barbarism) marked by an alarming disregard for humanity, when these events have regrettably become normalized. The acts of rape and murder perpetrated by Awami goons, whether in or out of uniform, are symptomatic of the unchecked power and absence of accountability prevailing in the state.
This Jahiliyyah is not, of course, a recent phenomenon. The infamous case of centurian Manik at JU, a notorious rapist associated with the Chhatra League, remains etched in memory. It is widely known that individuals with ties to the Awami League have been implicated in such heinous acts, and yet accountability has often been elusive. Manik, for instance, not only escaped punishment but also faced support from Awami propagandists like Gaffar Choudhury, who wielded their pens in defence of this rapist. Unfortunately, this pattern appears to persist, reflecting the nature of the Awami League.
Ordinary students apprehended several Awami leaders at Jahangirnagar University for aiding the rapist's escape. A video capturing the moment of throwing shoes at the three accused individuals gained widespread attention online. Notably, the picture of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman can be seen in the background.
The video captures a poignant symbolic scenario. By using Mujib's name and referencing the spirit of the liberation war, the Awami League have made the country into hell. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's picture in the background adds significant symbolic weight as if his image carries the burden of the crimes committed by those who claim allegiance to his ideals.