‘Tribal graffiti’ in books: Opponents beat up supporters!

Several people were injured in a clash under the Motijheel metro station in the capital on Wednesday. The incident took place when a group of tribal students took a stand in front of the textbook building to protest the removal of a painting with the word ‘tribal’ from the textbook. They were attacked by the other party, who were in favor of removing the painting from the book.

The names of ten of the injured have been identified. They are Shrestha Rupaiya (24), Isaba Shuhrat (25), Rengyang Mro (27), Futon Chakma, Dhanjetra (28), Ananta Dhammay, DBC journalist Jewel Mark (35), Shaili (27), Danwai Mro (24), and Tanichirang (30). The injured are currently receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Motijheel Inspector of Investigation Mohaymenul Islam said that the protesters in favor of the painting with the word 'Adivasi' (indigenous) left after being chased by the students and the situation is normal now.

Incidentally, there was a painting with the word 'Adivasi' on the back cover of the Bengali grammar and composition book for grades 9-10. There, the words Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist and Adivasi were written on five leaves of a tree, and next to it was written "Leaf tearing is prohibited."

On January 12, Dhaka University students surrounded the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) under the banner of 'Students for Sovereignty', which later led to the removal of the painting from the book. In protest, on the morning of January 15, an organization of indigenous students called 'Agitated Adivasi Chhatrajanta' announced to surround the textbook building.

Khairul Islam, a food vendor in Motijheel, said that when the tribal students took a stand chanting slogans, another group of students came and pushed them away after some time, resulting in several injuries in the clash.