On Victory Day, students at Dhaka University staged a protest against YouTubers Ilias Hossain and Pinaki Bhattacharya by burning their effigies. The demonstration was motivated by what the students described as the individuals’ ‘obscene remarks’ and derogatory comments concerning the nation’s independence and the Liberation War, which the students found unacceptable.
The effigy-burning took place on Sunday (10 December) at 9:15 pm at the base of the Raju Sculpture on the university campus. Students gathered to express their discontent with Pinaki and Ilias, while also paying tribute to the country’s hard-won freedom and the sacrifices made during the Liberation War.
During the protest, participants chanted a range of slogans, including ‘Pinaki’s two cheeks, beat them rhythmically with shoes’, ‘The address of Pakistanis will not be in this Bengal’, and ‘Ilias’s two cheeks, beat them rhythmically with shoes’. Additional slogans included ‘Hear this, collaborators, Bengal belongs to my ancestors’. These chants were intended to reaffirm the students’ commitment to national dignity, the values of independence, and their own moral responsibility.
One of the organisers told a media outlet that the protest was conducted from a perspective of moral duty and as a conscious student of Dhaka University. He explained that given the circulation of misleading narratives, disparaging remarks, and defamatory statements about Bangladesh’s independence and Liberation War, students could not remain silent during the Victory Month. Such behaviour, the organiser stated, amounted to a form of disrespect toward the nation.
Students emphasised that Victory Day is a symbol of the country’s independence and the memory of the Liberation War, and therefore they are unwilling to tolerate any form of mockery or insult at this time. The protest reflects not only their respect for the nation’s history but also their sense of ethical obligation as citizens and students.
The organisers added that initiatives like this foster awareness among students and promote a respectful attitude towards moral and national values in society. They hope that this demonstration sends a strong message against any derogatory commentary on the country’s independence and Liberation War, reinforcing both national pride and civic responsibility.
