Jamaat’s polls setback: DU students sing ‘Razakar, Al Badr Kichhui Rabe Nare’

On a lively Friday afternoon, the campus of Dhaka University echoed with music, dance, and revolutionary fervour as a group of students celebrated the defeat of the 11-party alliance in the 13th national parliamentary elections. 

The centrepiece of the celebration was the song “Razakar, Al Badr Kichhui Rabe Nare” (nothing of Razakar, Al Badr will remain), a powerful song recalling the Liberation War and condemning those who betrayed the nation.

The event was organised by Faria Matin Ela, a student of the Banking and Insurance Department, who had contested for Literature and Culture Secretary of DUCSU from the left-wing ‘Resistance Council’ panel. Speaking to participants, Ela said the programme was both a celebration and a statement: a reminder that “the people of Bangladesh have not forgotten the Liberation War, nor will they. The traitors and Razakars of the country will never be able to sit on the head of this country.”

From TSC to Shahbagh: A campus alive with music and movement

The celebration began in the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) area shortly after 4 pm, following a slight delay. Using a pickup truck as a mobile stage, the students danced and sang while moving along a carefully planned route: circling Jagannath Hall, visiting VC Chattar, Hall Para, Madhu’s Canteen, and Shahbagh, before returning to TSC.

Prior to the event, Ela had posted a banner on social media declaring, “Say no to the war criminals’ alliance”, calling on students to join the program and participate in the dance and singing. Her posts detailed the route and schedule, generating anticipation across the campus.

The mood was celebratory yet pointed, combining the energy of youth with a clear political message. As the participants danced to the song, the rhythm of the music carried with it both joy at the electoral outcome and remembrance of Bangladesh’s hard-won independence.

A reminder of history and accountability

For Ela and her peers, the event was more than just a celebration – it was a statement of memory and moral vigilance. “Leaving aside our glorious history, the traitors and Razakars of the country will never be able to sit on the head of this country. This is a reminder of that,” she said, underscoring the symbolic weight of the program.

Observers at the university noted that the event highlighted the continuing engagement of students in political life, particularly in defending the legacy of the Liberation War while expressing their stance on contemporary politics.

In a campus often abuzz with activism and debate, Friday’s dance-and-song procession was both festive and historically resonant – a moving reminder that for Dhaka University students, the past continues to shape the political present.