March 7 speech part of national pride, playing it not crime: Emi

Shamsunnahar Hall Students' Parliament former vice-president Sheikh Tasnim Afroz Emi has said that playing Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech is part of national pride and not a crime. She made the remark after spending two months in prison under the Anti-Terrorism Act over a protest related to the speech.

Speaking after her release from Kashimpur Central Women's Jail, Emi said, "I did no wrong, the state has wronged me." Referring to her protest as a "resistance against injustice", she declared that she will not back down from the street struggle.

The incident began on the night of March 7 when Emi was detained in front of Shahbagh police station while playing Bangabandhu's historic March 7 speech. Earlier that afternoon, she had organised the protest after a student named Asif Ahmed was picked up from in front of Shaheedullah Hall.

According to Emi, since the March 7 speech is not banned and is part of national pride, she felt it was necessary to protest against any disrespect shown to it. The next day, on March 8, police arrested her and two others under the Anti-Terrorism Act. After two months in jail, she was granted bail by the High Court on April 30 and released on May 7.

Emi alleged that a brutal attack was carried out on them during the Shahbagh programme. She claimed that former leaders of Dhaka University Central Students' Union (Ducsu) and activists of 'Jatiyo Chhatra Shakti' attacked them, snatched batteries from their rickshaws and vandalised the area.

Criticising the police role over the incident, Emi said those who failed to provide security have instead filed false cases against them, accusing them of anti-state conspiracy and activities of banned organisations.