DU Students Show Red Card to UN Human Rights Office in Dhaka

On Wednesday, 30 July 2025, students from the University of Dhaka organized a protest titled the ‘Red Card Assembly’ at the Raju Memorial Sculpture near TSC. Under the banner “Bikkhubdho Chhatrobrindo of Dhaka University” (Agitated Students of Dhaka University), they strongly opposed the presence of the newly approved United Nations Human Rights Office in Dhaka.

Demand to Cancel the Approval of the UN Office

The protesting students made a clear demand to the interim government: cancel the approval of the UN Human Rights Office in Dhaka immediately. They argued that this office goes against the country’s independence, sovereignty, and values.

Students Compare the UN Office to East India Company

At the gathering, students warned of serious consequences if the UN office remains in Bangladesh.

They said:

“আমরা মনে করি জাতিসংঘের মানবাধিকার কার্যালয় ইস্ট ইন্ডিয়া কোম্পানির আধুনিক ভার্সন।”
“We believe the UN Human Rights Office is a modern version of the East India Company.”

According to the students, this office would:

Harm national sovereignty
Destabilize the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Destroy moral values
Legalize what they described as perversions like homosexuality
Recognize prostitution, which they believe will lead to abuse and trafficking of women
Damage the country’s international image
Worsen law and order
Limit religious freedom

They added:

“এককথায়, দেশের মানুষের সাথে এক ধরণের আদর্শিক কনফ্লিক্ট (সংঘাত) তৈরি হবে।”
“In short, it will create an ideological conflict with the people of this country.”

Clear Message from Students to the Government

The students said they were protesting to reject the government’s agreement with the UN office:

“আমরা ঢাকা বিশ্ববিদ্যালয়ের শিক্ষার্থীরা আজ উপস্থিত হয়েছি জাতিসংঘের মানবাধিকার কার্যালয়ের সাথে সরকার যে চুক্তি করেছে, লালকার্ড দেখানোর মাধ্যমে সেটি বাতিলের দাবিতে।”
“We, the students of Dhaka University, are here today to show a red card to the government’s agreement with the UN Human Rights Office.”

They declared:

“আমাদের স্পষ্ট অবস্থান হচ্ছে- বাংলাদেশে জাতিসংঘের মানবাধিকার কার্যালয় থাকবে না।”
“Our clear position is – there will be no UN Human Rights Office in Bangladesh.”

Students Criticize Foreign Influence on Government Policies

The protesters accused the government of surrendering to foreign pressure without consulting the people. They believe important national institutions are being weakened deliberately.

They claimed:

“সরকার কারো সাথে আলোচনা না করে বিদেশী পরামর্শে দেশীয় প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোকে অকার্যকর করে দেশের নানান গুরুত্বপূর্ণ প্রতিষ্ঠানকে বিদেশীদের হাতে দিয়ে দিতে চাইছে।”
“The government is handing over vital national institutions to foreigners without public discussion, based on foreign advice.”

The students also strongly opposed the “Non-Disclosure Agreement” with the United States, which they said would hurt the country’s economic independence.

They said:

“এখন আবার ‘নন ডিসক্লোজার এ্যাগ্রিমেন্ট’ এর নামে দেশের ব্যবসা-বাণিজ্য ও আমদানী-রপ্তানীসহ দেশের অর্থনৈতিক সার্বভৌমত্বকে আমেরিকার কাছে বিকিয়ে দিতে চাইছে!”
“Now they are trying to sell off our trade, import-export, and economic sovereignty to the U.S. under the excuse of a Non-Disclosure Agreement!”

They reminded everyone that July is a month of sacrifice against foreign dominance:

“এদেশের ছাত্রজনতার জুলাইয়ের রক্তাক্ত আন্দালনটি ছিল ফ্যসিবাদ ও ভারতীয় তথা বৈদেশিক আধিপত্যবাদের বিরুদ্ধে।”
“The student uprising in July was a fight against fascism and foreign domination, including Indian dominance.”

But they believe the government is ignoring this legacy:

“সরকার জুলাইয়ের আকাঙ্ক্ষাকে বাদ দিয়ে দেশকে আবারো বৈদেশিক আধিপত্যবাদের দিকে ঠেলে দিচ্ছে।”
“The government is rejecting the spirit of July and pushing the country back into foreign control.”

UN Human Rights Office Seen as a Part of ‘Americanization’

The students believe that recent steps by the government are part of an attempt to ‘Americanize’ Bangladesh:

“সংস্কারের নামে দেশকে আমেরিকানাইজেশন করা হচ্ছে। জাতিসংঘের মানবাধিকার কার্যালয় তারই অংশ!”
“Under the name of reform, the country is being Americanized. The UN Human Rights Office is part of that process!”

Students Present Three Demands

From the Red Card Assembly, the students presented three main demands:

Cancel the approval of the UN Human Rights Office in Dhaka.
The interim government must assure students that it does not support LGBTQ rights or prostitution, and that it stands by the values of the majority population.
The government must not sign any secret or submissive agreement like the ‘Non-Disclosure Agreement’ with the United States.

Call for Nationwide Red Card Campaign

The students also encouraged citizens across the country to join in protest by changing their Facebook profile picture for one week, using a ‘Red Card’ image to express opposition to the UN office.