'Run over me': How Nusrat became a symbol of resistance

On 31 July, two photos went viral on social media. They were both taken from the High Court Mazar Gate around 12:30 pm.

In the first photo, a young man is staring fiercely into the eyes of a police officer, with other policemen standing around. A young woman is holding him tightly with all her strength. In the second photo, the same woman is seen trying to block a police prison van, her face showing anger as she shouts. 

The young man is not in the frame.

They are Noor Hasan and Nusrat Jahan, both Stamford University Bangladesh students.

Those viral photos are self-explanatory. Or at least one can assume the story behind it. 

But what exactly happened? And what followed? In an exclusive interview with The Business Standard, Noor and Nusrat shared their story.

The announced programme for that Wednesday was 'March for Justice,' which happened close to noon on 31 July. It was against the nationwide killings, mass arrests, attacks, lawsuits and disappearances surrounding the Quota Reform movement.

In Dhaka, protesters were heading towards the High Court. But not everyone dared to come out of their homes as arbitrary arrests ran rampant. 

However, five Stamford University students dared to do so. They are Noor, Ifaz, Bidhan, Nusrat and Umaida.

At first, they met at their university campus in Siddheswari and started to march toward the High Court. On the way, they were joined by two students from Viqarunnisa Noon School and College. They knew the police would disperse them if caught together. So they decided to keep some distance from each other and arrived at the High Court area separately.

They eventually reached the High Court Mazar gate. At the time, they saw some lawyers protesting there. The group of seven positioned themselves a short distance away. Students from various schools, colleges, and universities were also present. 

Gradually, their numbers grew to over a hundred.

Photo: TBS

About 10 minutes after they took their position, two patrol police officers spotted their group. They realised they had been targeted. The police surrounded them before they could move away. Everyone tried to flee in different directions.

The police began detaining the boys. Nusrat was right next to Noor. She held his hands tightly and tried to resist the police.

"I kept completely silent. Because if I cried out, they might beat me or the situation could get worse. I just expressed all my emotions with my eyes," said Noor.

At one point, a police officer struck Nusrat's hand. As it didn't result in Nusrat's retreat, the policeman called three policewomen. They came and pulled her hard. In that tug, Nusrat finally released Noor from her firm grasp. 

They walked ahead, with Noor, toward a police prison van. But Nusrat refused to give up. 

She ran and grabbed his hand once more. As the tug between the police and Nusrat intensified, Nusrat switched to grabbing Noor's belt. 

"At that moment, all I could think about was that I wouldn't let them take Noor bhai no matter what," said Nusrat. She was gripping the bars of the police van tightly. The three policewomen came again and dragged her away. Nusrat cut her hand, causing her to lose her grip.

A few journalists at the scene captured everything. At one point, the police kicked a journalist. The news spread in no time and more journalists arrived.

"It was a turning point. I didn't expect such massive media coverage as arrests were happening all across the country. When the police kicked a journalist, it provoked all others and they gathered," Noor remarked.

The police finally got Noor into the van. He found three others inside it. 

Nusrat stood alone in front of the police vehicle, trying to block it with her hands. The police were laughing from inside the van. It made her even more furious. 

At that moment, she was shouting: "Run! Run over me." With a bag on her shoulder and glasses on her eyes, Nusrat's image, as "a symbol of resistance," quickly circulated across news media and social networks.

"I was boiling with anger. At that moment, all I could think about was that I wouldn't let them take Noor bhai, no matter what," said Nusrat.

Nusrat was gripping the bars of the police van tightly. The three policewomen came again and dragged her away. Nusrat cut her hand, causing her to lose her grip.

The police van drove to Ramna Model Thana.

Meanwhile, many lawyers, including advocate Manzur Al Matin, appeared and took Nusrat inside the Supreme Court. Speeches and press conferences followed.

After some time, Nusrat and others headed to Ramna police station. Two faculty members from Noor's Department and two lawyers went to Ramna Model Thana. They got the four detained students, including Noor, released.

Noor was initially taken to Shahbag Police Station and was released from there around 7 pm. He confirmed his release through a Facebook post after returning home.

"Alhamdulillah, I have been released and safely returned home. I am grateful to my teachers, who know how to discipline me like a mother and protect me like a father. I thank my senior sisters, brothers and friends who never left my side for even a moment.

And finally, I express my deepest gratitude to my fearless sister Nusrat, whose courage is boundless. Although I'm the one under the spotlight, her anger and bravery surpassed even a thousand others like me. If every home had such a daughter, brothers would have nothing to worry about!" the post read.

Graffiti based on this particular incident has been painted on walls across the country. When asked how they are feeling, Nusrat replied, "These are inspiring me greatly and giving me more courage and confidence to stand up to injustice in the future."

"This movement happened with the participation of the masses. Certain moments, slogans and photos have touched people's hearts— inspired and encouraged them more. It feels great. Also, the graffiti repeatedly reminds us that we were part of this movement, part of the battle against injustice. 

May we always remain so," said Noor.

Noor grew up in Comilla. He passed his SSC from Comilla Zilla School and then moved to Dhaka. He completed his HSC from Adamjee Cantonment College, Dhaka. Being a college student, he actively participated in the road safety movement in 2018. 

Nusrat grew up in Demra. She passed her SSC from Bawany School & College and HSC from Central Women's College. Currently, Nusrat is a first-year student in the Department of Microbiology, while Noor is in his third year in the Department of Law at Stamford University. 

Though they aren't siblings by blood, their bond is just as strong.

"I want a Bangladesh where merit is valued, there is no discrimination, and everyone's basic rights and needs are fulfilled," Noor shared. Nusrat wishes Bangladesh to be a country for ordinary people.