An architect from Dhaka who walked in many of the rallies organised by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement told Metro on Wednesday that many like him did not support the tearing down of Mujibur Rahman’s statues, the vandalism inside the Prime Minister’s residence or the killings across Bangladesh.

The 31-year-old, who worked in Calcutta for six years and lived in Ballygunge, requested anonymity as he spoke. Excerpts from what he said:

I do not support the pulling down of Mujibur Rahman’s statues or the way the Prime Minister’s residence and Parliament were vandalised. I would say 80 per cent of the students behind the movement, or even more, do not support this.

Mujib gave us freedom. I think the destruction of his statues, busts and pictures was the outcome of anger and frustration at what her daughter did.

Also, there are mischief-makers who look for such crises to loot and plunder. Elements from the Jamaat (Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami) and the BNP (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) might have been behind the vandalism.

I caught two men looting furniture from Khilkhet police station the day Sheikh Hasina resigned. They were running away with some furniture. When I stopped them, I learned that they earned their livelihood by selling discarded plastic bottles. They were taking advantage of the lawlessness.

Many of us do not support the killing of Awami League leaders. They killed students ruthlessly. They should be tried for their actions. The way some police personnel have been killed must be condemned.

The situation is returning to normal in Dhaka. But there are still disturbances in many places outside. There have been reports of attacks on the minorities. This is unfortunate. The students who were part of the anti-discrimination movement always said they wanted a Bangladesh where there would be no discrimination based on religion.

Some Islamists are trying to take control of the situation.

The students had no plan to kill Hasina. She should not have left Bangladesh. She was the Prime Minister. Why would we want to kill her? We were demanding her resignation. We would have sought justice for the killings of the students. We are still demanding justice.

You may have seen the videos of how unarmed students were killed by the police and armed goons of the Awami League. Some of them can be identified. They should be tried in a court of law.

I would also like to tell Indians that Bangladeshis are not your enemies. I have lived in Calcutta for six years and received so much love from so many people there. My boss and some of my friends are still in touch with me.

I did face a lot of difficulties in getting visa extensions, which is why I had to come back. I dream of a south Asia where we will be able to visit each other’s countries like they do in Europe.