French organization JMBF expresses deep concern over bloody crackdown on peaceful student movement in Dhaka

European Representative. Paris, France; 23 July 2025.

The brutal crackdown on the ongoing peaceful student movement on the streets of Dhaka has drawn strong international reactions. France-based human rights organization Justicemakers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) has expressed deep concern, strong condemnation and protest in a statement, accusing the Bangladesh government of serious human rights violations.

On July 22, 2025, peaceful and unarmed students took part in a protest in front of the Secretariat in Dhaka and in the Gulistan area demanding the resignation of the Education Advisor and Secretary. However, the police and army forces used batons, sound grenades and tear gas during the protest, injuring more than a hundred students. According to DMCH sources, more than 75 of the injured students are undergoing treatment in hospitals.

In addition, a day earlier, on July 21, a fighter jet crashed at Dhaka’s Uttara Milestone School and College, killing numerous students, teachers, and staff. After the crash, the college principal and several students were beaten up by members of the army while giving a statement to the media about the death toll. This led to intense protests and the presentation of a six-point demand list on the college premises.

JAMBF’s response:

Robert Simon, the organization’s chief advisor and renowned French human rights activist, said,

“The repression in response to peaceful student protests is highly condemnable and a violation of human rights treaties. The message of hope that this government brought is now staining the streets with the blood of students—this is a profound failure.”

Advocate Shahanur Islam, founding president of JMBF and human rights lawyer, said,

“This attack is not just an attack on students, but an attack on the conscience of the entire nation. We demand an independent and international standard investigation.”

JMBF’s six-point demands:

1. Resignation of the Home Affairs and Education Advisors.
They should immediately step down, taking moral and administrative responsibility for the repressive measures against students.

2. The formation of an international commission of inquiry
must ensure an independent investigation under the supervision of the United Nations or an impartial human rights organization.

3. Exemplary punishment
of the accused. The police and army members involved in the attack must be identified, brought under the law and severely punished.

4. Rehabilitation and compensation for the injured,
including medical treatment, psychological rehabilitation, and economic compensation, must be ensured.

5. Protection of the constitutional rights of the movement:
Students’ constitutional rights to express their opinions and peaceful assembly must be ensured.

6. The government must provide a written assurance to stop future harassment and
stop filing cases or persecution against participants in the government-backed movement.

Call to the international community:

JMBF has called on global human rights organizations to stand by the just movement of students in Bangladesh and speak out against repressive actions.

Expressing solidarity with the incident, the JMBF said it is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to take action, if necessary, to seek redress for human rights violations under international law and treaties.