The 13-point recommendations made by a parliamentary probe committee over the conflict between teachers and students of public universities and army personnel during the caretaker government’s regime in 2007 are yet to be implemented.

“The probe report submitted by us is lying at the National Parliament library,” said Rashed Khan Menon, who headed the probe committee.

Although some measures were taken regarding the cases filed, it was disappointing that no recommendation made by the probe committee on compensating the victims or taking disciplinary action against the accused were implemented, he added.

A scuffle broke out between army personnel and three students of Dhaka University (DU) at the university’s gymnasium playgrounds on Aug 20, 2007.

The incident sparked clashes between police and students spreading from DU to all other educational institutions across the country.

One person was killed in Rajshahi and several hundred injured during the clashes.

A total of 59 cases were filed against 84,000 unidentified students on charges of their alleged involvement in the violence.

Several teachers of DU and Rajshahi University (RU) were also arrested and placed on remand on charges of instigating the violence.

After spending five months in prison, four DU teachers were released on presidential clemency on Jan 22, 2008. Eight DU students were also released in several phases.

Two separate inquiries were opened over the incident by the judiciary and DU in the same year the incident occurred.

After an elected government assumed power in 2009, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry on Education opened an inquiry into the incident following which the 13-point recommendations were made.

The parliamentary probe committee in its report recommended for action from the government’s highest quarters against the accused, for stopping all army and armed forces intelligence service’s interference in politics, compensating the tortured and victimised students and withdrawal of all cases and sentences given at the time.

Although no initiatives had been taken regarding the reports of the other two investigative bodies, Menon said that the recommendations made the parliamentary standing committee should see light of day.

While speaking to Bangla Tribune, he said that although the Dhaka University Students’ Central Union (DUSCU) elections were held at their recommendation, the victims of the August Movement had not been compensated and thus it was difficult to guarantee that such incidents would not be repeated in future.  

Despite having spent so much time and effort in investigating the matter for so long, the government took no initiative regarding the matter while the Education Ministry did not play its role, he lamented.

If no action is taken on the recommendations made by a parliamentary investigative committee, then the parliament loses its credibility, Menon cautioned.

Manabendra Deb, one of the DU students arrested in 2007, said that for some unknown reasons, the government had been trying to steer clear from the August Movement which had been a fight for the honour of university students and the citizens of the country.

“Although DUSCU elections have been held after a decade, those of us who underwent torture during the movement are unable to rest assured that democracy has been restored or the political culture has gone under any changes,” he said.

Regarding the implementation of the parliamentary committee’s recommendations, he said that it was unlikely that they would ever be acted upon under the current circumstances.

The country became marred by violence and anarchy after the four-party alliance stepped down from power in 2006 and the two leading political parties took a stance against one another over elections.

Amid nationwide tensions, an army-backed interim government led by former Bangladesh Bank Governor Farkhruddin Ahmed took over state power with the promise of holding credible elections.

The interim government declared an emergency in the country when Awami League, Jatiya Party and other political parties boycotted elections slated for Jan 22 in 2007. Soon afterwards, the interim‑government embarked on a minus-two mission of removing the heads of the two leading political parties as part of which AL President Sheikh Hasina, the current prime minister, and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia were arrested.