Razakar slogans

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Graffiti of Razakar slogans painted by students after the July Revolution in Dhaka July Revolution of Students graffiti at Shahbag area 21.jpg
Graffiti of Razakar slogans painted by students after the July Revolution in Dhaka

The Razakar slogans were a series of protest chants used during the 2024 Bangladesh quota reform movement, beginning on 14 July 2024. [1] [2] [3] [4] The slogans included,

Contents

Bengali:
তুমি কে? আমি কে?
রাজাকার! রাজাকার!
কে বলেছে? কে বলেছে?
স্বৈরাচার! স্বৈরাচার
Romanized:
Tumi Kē? Ami Kē?
Rājākār! Rājākār!
Kē Bolēcchē? Kē Bolēcchē?
Shoirāchār! Shoirāchār!
Translation:
Who are you? Who am I?
Razakar! Razakar!
Who has said? Who has said?
Autocrat! Autocrat! [5]

Which emerged following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina referred to the protesting students as "grandchildren of Razakars" during a press conference. [6] [7] The slogans later became the main rallying cry of the movement and played a significant role in the July Revolution. [8] [9] [10] Moreover, the slogans have either been praised as stance against "monopolistic" political tagging binary between freedom fighter (or in favour power of liberation) and Razakar (or opposite power of liberation) by contemporary autocratic Awami League government to defend it's tyranny and autocracy, or have also been criticised claiming as "opposite of dominant political narrative" (or counter-narrative) of Bangladesh liberation war. [11] Moreover, the slogans have either been praised as a against "strategic" political tagging binary between freedom fighter (or in favour power of liberation) and Razakar (or opposite power of liberation) by contemporary autocratic Awami League government to defend it's tyranny and autocracy, or have also been criticised claiming as "opposite of dominant political narrative" (or counter-narrative) of Bangladesh liberation war. [12]

Background

On 14 July 2024, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, during a press conference in the Ganabhaban, following her state visit to China, was asked a question by, Prabhash Amin, Head of the ATN News, regarding the protests questioning and stating,

If two equally qualified candidates stand before me — one the child of a freedom fighter and one the child of a Razakar — I would prefer to give the job to the child of the freedom fighter

In response, Hasina quoted,

Why so much anger against freedom fighters? If the grandchildren of freedom fighters don't get quota benefits, will those then go to the grandchildren of the Razakars? That's my question to the countrymen. . . . That means that the children-grandchildren of freedom fighters are not talented, but the children-grandchildren of Razakar are talented, right? . . . [13]

Incidents

Students of the University of Rajshahi using the Razakar slogans on 14 July 2024 at 11:30 p.m. (BST)

In response to Sheikh Hasina's comment, in the early hours of 15 July, [14] students began using slogans such as,

চাইতে গেলাম/চেয়েছিলাম অধিকার।
হয়ে গেলাম রাজাকার।

Transliteration:
Chaite Gelam/Cheyecchilam Odhikar,
Hoye Gelam Razakar.

lit.'We wanted right
but for that, we became Razakar (traitor)!
'. [5]

Protesters argued that Hasina’s statement indirectly labelled them as "Razakars" and demeaned them for advocating for quota reform, which led them to adopt the slogan. [15]

Graffiti of Razakar slogans painted by students after the July Revolution in Dhaka caaite gelaam adhikaar, hy'e gelaam raajaakaar - graaphiti.jpg
Graffiti of Razakar slogans painted by students after the July Revolution in Dhaka
Protesters in Muradpur, Chittagong giving the slogan

Reactions

Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, a Bangladeshi litterateur and former professor at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology condemned its use, stating that although he considered Dhaka University his beloved institution, he no longer wished to visit it, as the slogan made him associate the students with Razakars. [16] In response, students of the university declared him a Persona non grata . [17] Political leaders, including Dipu Moni and Junaid Ahmed Palak, [18] along with several organizations, criticized the slogan as being disrespectful to the spirit of the Bangladesh Liberation War and to the country's history. In response to the protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina clarified that her earlier remarks had not been directed at the students. [19]

Following its emergence, the slogan became a topic of widespread debate and was referenced in various literary and musical works. [20] [21] [22] Later on, 15 September 2024, protesters at Dhaka University continued to use the slogan as a symbol of their movement. [23]

Graffiti of a July 2024 calendar in Dhaka, displaying the slogan marked on the date of July 14. Graffiti Honoring July Revolution in Dhaka 65.jpg
Graffiti of a July 2024 calendar in Dhaka, displaying the slogan marked on the date of July 14.

The slogan also appeared in a calendar related to the quota reform protests, marking the date of July 14. [24] Asif Mahmud later shared an image of the calendar on social media and used it for the cover of his book "July: Motherland or Death". However, in the final version, the slogan was replaced with the phrase "Asche Phagun, Amra Hobo Digun" (lit.'Spring is coming, we will double'), a change that attracted criticism from some quarters. [25] On 16 August 2025, at the freedom fighter gathering of the Kaderia Bahini organized on the occasion of Makrai Day in Tangail Abdul Kader Siddique said, "Don't make fun of Bangladesh. Do not joke about the independence of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is not a puppet. Those who chants Razakar slogans. Remember that, there is no place for any Razakar in Bangladesh two days before or later." [26]

Many songs, poems, articles and short stories had later been written over the slogan including by Hero Alam, Lemon Mahmud, T Mahmud, Anik Sahan, Anik Shutradhar, Newton Jr. etc. [27] [28] A song named "Awaz Uda" (Raise your voice) by Rapper Hanna was meanwhile made on these slogan theme. [29] Other songs are Shayan's "Bhoy Banglay", Moushumi's "Deshta Tomar Baper Naki", 'Baajan Amar Hoye Gyache Lash', Cezanne's 'Kotha Ko', 'Chobbisher Guerrilla', Parsa Mahzabeen's 'Cholo Bhule Jai', Coldcraft's 'Bayanna', Az Omix's 'Rokto', Mc-E-Mac and GK Kibrea's 'Slogan' and 'Inqilab', Siam Fardeen's 'Abu Saeed', Naheed Hasan's 'Jabab Dena', Revolution in Motion's 'Palte De Itihash', Voice of Revolution's 'Razakar', Lunatic's 'Bir' and Ridmaster's 'Desh Kaar'. [30]

References

  1. "'তুমি কে আমি কে, রাজাকার রাজাকার' স্লোগানে প্রকম্পিত ঢাবি". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  2. "'তুমি কে আমি কে- রাজাকার রাজাকার' স্লোগানে ছিল চূড়ান্ত বিপ্লবের ডাক". mzamin.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  3. "'তুমি কে, আমি কে, রাজাকার রাজাকার' স্লোগানে ফের প্রকম্পিত ঢাবি". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  4. "'তুমি কে? আমি কে? রাজাকার...' স্লোগান নিয়ে নাহিদ ইসলামের ব্যাখ্যা". Kaler Kantho . Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Who were the Razakars and why are they central to Bangladesh protests?". Al Jazeera. 22 July 2024. Archived from the original on 8 October 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  6. "پایان حسینه در بنگلادش". www.khorasannews.com (in Arabic). Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  7. "در بنگلادش چه خبر است؟ دولت معترضان به سهمیه‌ای‌ها را «رضاکار» خطاب کرد". euronews (in Persian). 19 July 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  8. "How 'tagging' silences critical voices in Bangladesh". The Daily Star . 24 November 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  9. Modak, Ruma (30 November 2024). "ট্যাগিং: রাজনৈতিক দমন-পীড়নে এক নির্মম ও প্রতারক অস্ত্র – DW – 30.11.2024". DW (in Bengali). Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  10. "ট্যাগিং রাজনীতি যে সর্বনাশ ডেকে আনবে". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). 10 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  11. আকাশ, এম এম (1 August 2024). "'কোটা আন্দোলন ২০২৪' কী শিক্ষা দিল". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  12. আকাশ, এম এম (1 August 2024). "'কোটা আন্দোলন ২০২৪' কী শিক্ষা দিল". Prothom Alo (in Bengali). Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  13. "How PM Hasina's 'razakar' barb became catchword of Bangladesh protests; here's what it means". WION . 20 July 2024. Archived from the original on 4 August 2024. Retrieved 4 August 2024.
  14. "'We are Razakars': What is this loaded term used by student protesters that has irked Bangladesh govt?". Firstpost . 19 July 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  15. "Students demand PM withdraw comment on quota reform protesters". Dhaka Tribune . 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 15 July 2024. Retrieved 16 October 2024.
  16. "'I don't want to go to Dhaka University anymore'". The Daily Star. 2024-07-16. Retrieved 2025-03-01.
  17. "Dr Zafar Iqbal declared unwanted at SUST - - observerbd.com" . Retrieved 2024-07-18.
  18. "এবার বিক্ষোভকারীদের নিয়ে মন্তব্য করলেন দুই মন্ত্রী". The Daily Ittefaq (in Bengali). Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  19. "শিক্ষার্থীদের রাজাকার বলিনি: শেখ হাসিনা". bdnews24.com. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  20. "'রাজাকার' স্লোগানের ব্যাখ্যা শেয়ার করলেন আসিফ নজরুল". Jugantor. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  21. ""তুমি কে আমি কে, রাজাকার রাজাকার", শ্লোগানের প্রবক্তা কারা ? Tumi Ke Ami Ke Rajakar Rajakar Slogan". ATN Bangla News YouTube Page. 16 September 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  22. "নিজেদের রাজাকার বলতে তাদের লজ্জাও করে না : প্রধানমন্ত্রী". Prothomalo (in Bengali). 15 July 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  23. "'তুমি কে আমি কে রাজাকার রাজাকার' স্লোগানের দুই মাস, ঢাবিতে জড়ো হচ্ছে শিক্ষার্থীরা". ntvbd.com. 15 September 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  24. "ঢাকার দেয়ালে রক্তাক্ত জুলাইয়ের 'অন্যরকম' ক্যালেন্ডার". Jugantor (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  25. "উপদেষ্টা আসিফের বই: অফলাইন-অনলাইনে চলছে 'ইতিহাস' উপস্থাপন নিয়ে বিতর্ক". Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  26. "Don't compare Bangabandhu and Sheikh Hasina as one": Kader Siddique
  27. "'রাতে গান আপলোড, সকাল ৬টায় এলাকাছাড়া' | Tumi Ke Ami Ke Raja Kar Raja Kar | Anik Sutradhar". Prothom Alo official YouTube page. 30 September 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  28. "কোটা আন্দোলন নিয়ে হিরো আলমের গান | তুমি কে আমি কে রাজাকার রাজাকার | Hero Alom Song 2024". Hero Alam Official YouTube page. 18 July 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
  29. "আন্দোলন, গান, জেল - সে সময়ের গল্প শোনালেন র‍্যাপার হান্নান ও সেজান | Rapper Hannan & Shezan | ITV". Independent Television . 12 August 2024.
  30. "কোটা আন্দোলন ঘিরে আলোচনায় যেসব গান". 4 August 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2025.