To our Wolfpack Community,
In recent weeks, Bangladesh has witnessed a surge of protests from students, including graduate students. The movement, which began as a call for a reform of the quota system, has now evolved into a significant national issue, drawing attention from international observers and media.
The police have attacked the peacefully protesting students. A student named Abu Sayeed was shot dead by police in broad daylight in front of other protestors. In addition, targeted attacks have taken place even in hospitals on the injured students. Many students have died while thousands of others have been injured across the country. As a consequence, students from high schools, colleges, their guardians, and people from different classes of society across the country have joined the original movement. Meanwhile, a complete nationwide internet blackout and a strict military-enforced curfew was imposed to disrupt the protest and media coverage.
The Executive Board of the NC State Graduate Student Association (GSA) stands in solidarity with students in Bangladesh who are peacefully protesting. We also stand in solidarity with the many Bangladeshi members of our own NC State community who have been impacted, directly and indirectly, by this tragic conflict.Â
We condemn the heinous attacks on peaceful protesters, which have resulted in the tragic deaths of many students and injuries to thousands of others. The GSA Executive Board has been in close contact with The Graduate School and knows that this violence has reached into our community with students losing their loved ones in the rising conflict. Our hearts go out to our fellow wolfpack members and we aim to support them in every way we can. This is an extremely distressing time for the community and we join the calls for accountability and justice. Additionally, we demand the upholding of students’ constitutional rights to peaceful protests. We believe that all students across the globe have the right to have their voices heard and respected without fear of unjust and violent retribution.
Sincerely,
The Executive Board of the North Carolina State Graduate Student Association
photo courtesy of Munir Uz Zaman/Agence France-Presse