Call for ‘Red Terror’ Sparks Controversy at Dhaka University
A Facebook post by Meghmallar Basu, a leader of a faction of the Dhaka University Students’ Union, calling for “Red Terror,” has sparked fear among a group of students at the university. Concerned for their safety, the students have demanded Meghmallar’s immediate arrest.
At a press conference held in front of the Madhur Canteen on Saturday (January 18), the students announced their intention to file a General Diary (GD) against Meghmallar at Shahbagh Police Station.
While reading a written statement, AB Zubair, a student of the Islamic Studies Department, said, “Students protesting various forms of terrorism through democratic means fear that this extremist group may once again resort to Red Terror tactics to suppress dissent. Students are deeply concerned about their safety, as history has shown how these perpetrators of Red Terror have brutally murdered those with differing views. To ensure the safety of students, it is crucial to bring the instigators of Red Terror and their shadowy enablers to justice without delay.”
The students also addressed the erasure of graffiti featuring Siraj Sikder, a controversial figure in communist politics and a Maoist leader. They stated that Sikder’s party, the Purba Banglar Sarbahara Party, adhered to armed struggle and rejected parliamentary methods, instead promoting prolonged guerrilla warfare. They argued that glorifying such ideologies through graffiti could validate Meghmallar’s call for Red Terror, prompting protesting students to remove the graffiti.
Meghmallar’s Controversial Statements
On Friday (January 17), Meghmallar Basu posted on Facebook, saying, “Red Terror is the only way—defensive violence in the interest of the marginalized.” Later that night, a group of students led by former coordinator Mahin Sarkar staged a protest march condemning the post.
In response to the backlash, Meghmallar posted again on Saturday (January 18), writing, “I sincerely apologize to my comrades. You are fighting on the ground for constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples. My ‘incompetent outburst’ has created an unnecessary diversion. Beyond this, I am prepared to defend my words in court, in public, and in the hereafter. But no more on Facebook. File a case if you must, but don’t make a spectacle. Even if I am bombed in the future, there will be no Facebook reaction. Thank you.”
Meghmallar’s Explanation
Speaking to the media, Meghmallar clarified, “In my Facebook status, I did not advocate offensive terrorism but rather defensive terrorism.”
The incident has ignited heated debates on campus, with many questioning the implications of Meghmallar’s statements and the potential risks to campus safety.
