Dhaka University students demanded a ban on Jatiya Party (JaPa) during a demonstration on Friday night, a few hours after Gono Odhikar Parishad President Nurul Haque Nur was injured in a clash with police and army personnel in the capital's Bijoynagar area.

The protest began around 11:30pm, when a group of students brought out a procession that marched through different campus roads before gathering at the base of the Raju Memorial Sculpture. Demonstrators chanted slogans such as “Ban, Ban Jatiya Party,” “One, Two, Three, Four – Jatiya Party No More,” and “The way the League went, JaPa will go the same.”

Speakers at the rally accused the Awami League and the Jatiya Party of being engaged in “B-team politics” under India’s influence. They alleged that attempts were being made to rehabilitate the Awami League through JaPa despite its ouster from power, warning that such moves could trigger another mass movement similar to that of 5 August.

Mosaddik Ali Ibne Mohammad, a Bengali department student and candidate for DUCSU Literature and Culture Secretary post, said, “After 5 August, whenever the July fighters raised their demands, the police cracked down just like during Hasina’s regime. The BUET students’ movement has also faced attacks. Those involved must be brought to justice.”

DUCSU vice-president (VP) candidate Jamaluddin Khalid stated, “Some may disagree with Nurul Haque Nur, but during Hasina’s fascism, he was a symbol of courage. Yesterday’s attack on him was premeditated. We will not spare those who raise their hands against the July fighters.”

Another VP candidate, Yasin Arafat, said, “Although the Awami League is banned, they are still active behind the scenes. The Jatiya Party has always been their B team. After this incident, JaPa must be banned and excluded from the elections. Otherwise, the students will cause July again.”

Gono Odhikar Parishad president Bin Yamin Molla, who also joined the protest, remarked, “The attackers have been captured on video. They must be identified and punished. If a leader like Nurul Haque Nur is not safe, then where are the July warriors safe?”

Other students at the rally echoed similar sentiments, branding JaPa as an “accomplice” of Sheikh Hasina’s regime. Online, student leaders from different organizations also condemned the attack.

Earlier in the day, police clashed with Gono Odhikar Parishad activists in front of JaPa’s central office in Dhaka. Nurul Haque Nur was severely injured in the violence and was later admitted to hospital in a bloodied state.