JCD lays siege to JnU VC office over attack on journalists

Leaders and activists of the Jagannath University (JnU) unit of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) today laid siege to the vice chancellor’s office, protesting what they alleged was a biased role of the university administration over the recent attack on journalists.

The protest began with a procession from Shanto Chattar on the campus in the afternoon. The march paraded through the Science Building area before ending in front of the administrative building, where the protesters held a brief rally.

Speaking at the rally, JnU JCD Convener Mehedi Hasan Himel claimed that since August 5, they had not interfered in the activities of any journalists’ organisations on campus. However, he alleged that activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir had taken control of these organisations through covert political activities.

“We urged the vice chancellor to hold an inclusive election involving everyone. But he did not do so. As a result, on March 5, a disgraceful attack on journalists took place led by Jamaat and Shibir activists,” he alleged.

Abdul Alim Arif, secretary of the Islami Chhatra Shibir unit of the university, said, “The allegations made by Chhatra Dal against Shibir are completely baseless and fabricated. No Shibir leaders or activists were involved in the clash. Rather, Chhatra Dal directed their activists to attack the journalists. In the past, Chhatra League used to shift the blame for their actions onto others; similarly, Chhatra Dal is now trying to shift the blame onto Shibir.”

Regarding the matter, the university’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Rezaul Karim said, “When a group of journalists brought complaints to me regarding the election of the Journalists’ Association, I found their demands reasonable. That is why I suspended the election and instructed that an election coordination committee be formed. So I do not see where my fault is.”

On Thursday around 11:45 am, clashes broke out in front of the Jagannath University Journalists’ Association office.

At least 20 journalists were injured in the incident. Both pro-JCD and pro-Shibir groups traded allegations of attacking each other.

Following the incident, the university administration suspended the association’s election.