DUCSU inaugurates ‘Artanad’ memorial against torture at student dormitories

The Dhaka University Central Students’ Union (DUCSU) inaugurated a memorial titled “Artanad-Nirob Krandan” at the university’s Central Library premises on Wednesday.

The structure is aimed at preserving the memory of the physical and mental torture partisan student groups inflicted on general students in the residential halls of Dhaka University. The torture practice is referred to as “Gonoroom-Guestroom culture” among student circles.

The memorial seeks to portray the suffering, fear and suppressed voices of students who faced political intimidation, forced participation in activities, verbal abuse and physical violence under the long-standing culture.

It was inaugurated at 2pm on 7 October, marking the sixth death anniversary of Abrar Fahad, a student of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) who was killed in 2019 in a dormitory torture incident involving members of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League.

Abrar’s father Md Barkat Ullah and DUCSU Vice-President Shadik Kayem jointly inaugurated the memorial.

DUCSU General Secretary SM Farhad laid the foundation stone, while Assistant General Secretary Mohiuddin Khan named the memorial “Artanad”. DUCSU Science and Technology Secretary Iqbal Haider oversaw its construction and implementation.

Architect Nazmul and his team designed the memorial. Its inscription reads, “The voice that was silenced is echoed in architecture today.”

DUCSU Student Transport Secretary Asif Abdullah, Literature and Culture Secretary Mosaddek Ali Ibn Muhammad, Career Development Secretary Mazharul Islam and Social Services Secretary AB Zubair supervised the construction and implementation.

Speaking at the inauguration, Abrar Fahad’s father Md Barkat Ullah said, “As a father, I will never forget the pain of losing my son Abrar Fahad. As a university student, he expressed his opinion. But because of that opinion, he was brutally killed. As a father, it is very difficult to accept such a death of a child.”

He said he did not consider the “Artanad” memorial merely as an architectural installation.

“I do not see the memorial monument named ‘Arthanad’ inaugurated at Dhaka University today as just an installation. It will preserve the memory of students who became victims of political torture and oppression at different times. Many of them may not have had the opportunity to express their suffering. This monument will also tell the story of their silent suffering,” he said.

DUCSU Vice-President Shadik Kayem said the Gonoroom and Guestroom culture that had prevailed in Dhaka University’s residential halls for years had been used to establish political control over students and subject them to physical and mental oppression.

“Numerous students were tortured, humiliated and mentally traumatised because of this culture. Many also lost their lives,” he said.

Shadik said DUCSU built the memorial to preserve the memory of the pain, fear and cries of students who experienced such oppression.

“‘Artanad’ will remind generation after generation of the history of that oppression. At the same time, it will remind us of the need to ensure the dignity, security and rights of students,” he said.