The Logi Boitha Massacre

Politics Jan 10, 2025

The Background

It was the year 2006. The reign of the Oikkyo Jot government between BNP and Jaamat was coming to an end, and the transition to a caretaker government was taking place. However, the opposition party Awami League had their own doubts about the future caretaker government. They were especially concerned regarding the potential appointment of Khondokar Mahmud Hasan as chief adviser in the caretaker government. Awami League made accusations that BNP increased the retirement age for justices and their appointed president, Iajuddin Ahmed, was still the president so that they could manipulate the future election. As a result, Awami League used this to launch a protest movement.

Days Before the Event

To prevent violence in the upcoming days and to make sure the next election process goes as fair and violence-free as possible, AL general secretary Abdul Mannan and BNP general secretary Mannan Bhuiya made talks, but the lack of agreement between both parties' leadership made the discussions fall apart, and ultimately no negotiation was made. To prevent Khondokar Mahmud Hasan from becoming chief adviser was the main target of AL at this point, and to stop this, Sheikh Hasina instructed all party members to come with Logi and Boitha to Dhaka. Khondokar Mahmud Hasan declared on October 27 that he didn’t want to take an oath as chief adviser in the future, making the future of the upcoming caretaker government more chaotic. 27 October saw a lot of violence all around the country, especially at BNP-related establishments and businesses. Salahuddin Ahmad, an outgoing MP’s Demra-related establishment, was burnt, and another outgoing BNP MP, Barrister Nazmul Huda’s house, faced brick-related attacks.

The Black Day of the Event

Awami League called a rally in Paltan, Dhaka, and they called upon supporters of the Grand Alliance to show up with boat hooks and oars—boat being the election symbol for Awami League. There was a counter rally as well of BNP and Jaamat at Baitul Mukarram. Jaamat had a lot of Islami Chhatra Shibir members at their counter rally. AL members at first had an hour-long clash with police forces. Police tried to stop Awami League-affiliated people that day from causing further violence; however, they faced brick and cocktail bomb attacks, which made the whole area chaotic. By noon, the boat hooks and oars were used to beat up people who gathered at the counter rally—witnesses and newspapers at that time reported. An example of the violence that day that targeted political opponents was the incident of the Islami Chhatra Shibir local leader who fell to the ground called Muzahidul Islam Muzahid and was beaten up with oars and hooks to death by AL activists. In the violence. In the clashes, more than two thousand people were injured while 12 people were killed, six of whom were confirmed to be Islami Chhatra Shibir members.

Deaths and Violence

The exact death toll that day has been reported with different numbers in different newspapers and sources. Officially, DMP (Dhaka Metropolitan Police) claimed 2000 people were injured in the violence that day and over 12 people had died. DMC itself saw an influx of 150 injured patients. Furthermore, over 100 police officers were injured. Most of the injured 2000 belonged to either Chhatra Shibir, Chhatra Dol, or Jubo Dol. Numerous innocent people were also victims of the attack. If the days preceding the attack and after the attack are counted in total, 23 people died in 3 days.

Who was responsible?

Sheikh Hasina and the Awami League made the clash more violent, instructing their supporters to go to the capital with oars and hooks. While the incident that happened was clearly a result of the Awami League intentionally organising a rally with violent motives in mind, newspapers at the time tried to do a “both sides were at fault narrative” out of this incident. An example of how partisan biases played a role in reporting was regarding the photo of a face scarf-wearing guy holding a gun. During the afternoon of that day, gunfire broke out among Islami Chhatra Shibir and AL activists; however, who was responsible for the gunfire during Nizami’s speech still remains a mystery. New Age reported the face scarf guy who had a revolver was an AL activist, while ProthomAlo alleged the same person belonged to Islami Chhatra Shibir, and they said witnesses claimed people near Nizami were handing out guns. Ittefaq also said one of the people who was shot that afternoon was a Shibir member and was shot by an AL activist. The truth of how responsible the other side was regarding the massacre has been hidden due to the biased reporting done by newspapers at that time.

The picture of an armed person whose true political allegiance still remains shrouded in mystery.

Aftermath

AL got what they wanted, and Khondokar Mahmud Hasan refused to be chief adviser in the upcoming government. A charge sheet was filed against several of the perpetrators—46 of them—and they were later given bail when AL came into power once again after the 2008 elections. BNP and Jamaat leaders condemned the violent actions that day, and Jamaat e Islami later released statements calling those who died on that day as martyrs. The attacks drew condemnation internationally as well from people like UN secretary Kofi Anan, US diplomat Patricia A. Butenis, and the European Union.

Conlusion

The violence that day made the future of a caretaker government uncertain and led the way for 1/11 to happen. It also showed that AL would have done anything to ensure they get back to power again. As an opposition party, the Awami League was really violent on that day, and when they got power, they decided to be more violent towards the opposing parties and members than ever before. Logi Boitha was a glimpse at what sort of violence AL was capable of, and the 2013 Shapla Chattar Massacre and 2024 July Massacre are clear examples of that violence manifesting when they had absolute power. AL cracked down on Jaamat and BNP members when they won back power as well. The 2006 Logi Boitha massacre was the start of the Awami League trying to win back power and consolidate that power by cracking down on opposition and trying to rule as long as they could.

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