Demand for Justice Against Atrocities on Students and Citizens: Human Chain by Sports Journalists

Sports journalists have organized a human chain demanding justice for the atrocities against students and citizens in the ongoing national movement and calling for a discrimination-free society. The human chain started at noon on Saturday in front of Gate No. 1 of Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, attended by over a hundred journalists from various media outlets. The event concluded with a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives in the atrocities.

ATM Saeduzzaman, sports editor of Kaler Kantho, said, "There are no words to express the grief for what has happened in July and what is still happening. I am here not just as a sports journalist but as a free citizen of an independent country. I am deeply saddened and mourning."

Calling for justice, he added, "We should have raised our voices earlier. These atrocities must be stopped at any cost. Those responsible have not done their duty. I am not sure how many more years we will have to bear the consequences of these events. I demand a thorough investigation of each incident, not a superficial one."

Emphasizing a discrimination-free society, Saeduzzaman continued, "As free citizens of an independent country, we must not be deprived of our rights. This country is ours; it doesn't belong to any one person. We didn't fight in the Liberation War, but this independence is a source of pride for all of us. It's not anyone's property. The time has come to realize this. I want quality life, not quantity. A life where I can go from home to office safely, my child can go to school, and my elderly parents can receive proper medical care."

Rezwan Uz Zaman, special correspondent of Channel 24, said, "We demand justice for every murder. Our only demand is that justice must be established. We believe that if we can turn this demand into a mass movement, it will be fulfilled."

Shamim Chowdhury, a senior sports journalist at NewsG24.com, spoke about the journalists killed while covering the anti-discrimination movement, "We still don't know the exact number of deaths in this movement. We're hearing different numbers from various sources. Among them, five journalists have been killed while on duty. On behalf of the sports journalists, we pray for their souls. Professionally, they were our colleagues. Our first demand is a proper and credible investigation of each death."

Senior sports journalist Noman Mohammad spoke about the future generation, "We are here out of a sense of responsibility. According to a UNICEF report, 32 children have died. That child could have been yours or mine. It could have been any of our children. Who are we building this country for? Who are we trying to rebuild this country for? For our future generations."

He continued, "If they are not safe in this country, then who is? That's why we, the sports journalists, are here with a demand - to stop the atrocities against students and citizens that have been happening for over two weeks. This must be stopped swiftly. We want a guarantee of natural death, not any more untimely deaths."