NSTU Correspondent:
Students of Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU) staged a demonstration on Thursday protesting the establishment of a United Nations Human Rights Country Office in Dhaka, calling it a threat to Bangladesh’s sovereignty and traditional values.
The protest took place at 1:30pm at the university’s Central Shaheed Minar.
Carrying placards and chanting slogans, students expressed concern over what they termed as foreign interference under the guise of human rights. The slogans on the placards included: “Where is the UN when Gaza bleeds?”, “No need to stay, Go Back UN”, “Resist all Western agendas including LGBTQ”, and “Stop political occupation in the name of human rights.”
Speaking at the protest, students said that Bangladesh has a functioning legal framework that ensures fundamental rights, and therefore does not require external intervention.
Safwan, a student of the Department of Economics, said, “We stand on behalf of the devout people of this country. We do not want to see our peaceful and value-based society undermined. We urge the UN to cancel the proposed activities respecting the wishes of the people.”
Another protester, Nehal Ahmed from the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, said, “Any foreign interference under the pretext of human rights is a direct threat to our religious beliefs, social norms, and sovereignty. Government decisions must reflect public sentiment.”
The demonstrators urged the immediate cancellation of the UN’s proposed human rights activities in the country and called upon all citizens to remain vigilant in protecting the nation’s sovereignty and cultural integrity.
