Nasir Uddin Nasir, General Secretary of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, has alleged that Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, has begun seizing control of various university campuses across Bangladesh.
Speaking at a press briefing in the capital on Thursday, he expressed concerns over Shibir’s growing influence and recent incidents of violence.
Referring to a recent attack on a female student in Chattogram, Nasir claimed, "Since the mass uprising, we’ve consistently stated that Shibir has not actively participated in the democratic movements of the past 15 and a half years—except when it involved demanding the release of their own leaders."
He further alleged that after August 5, Shibir initiated a systematic occupation of campuses. "We’ve witnessed this in Rajshahi University where they attacked a democratic procession, and in Chattogram where a female student was assaulted. They even attempted a public attack on a leftist rally at Dhaka University," Nasir added.
He emphasized that Shibir`s political resurgence on campuses is becoming increasingly visible. "Their covert politics is misleading ordinary students, and it’s becoming more apparent every day," he said.
Nasir also mentioned that Chhatra Dal had tried to organize open political activities at Khulna University of Engineering and Technology (KUET), but was met with violent resistance. He alleged that the resulting tension was manipulated to create a mob situation that eventually led to the removal of the vice-chancellor.
"Just two days ago, leaders of this underground group attacked a supporter of Chhatra Dal again," Nasir said. In response, the organization launched sit-in protests across all educational institutions today.
He concluded by stating that democratic political expression must be allowed openly on campuses, and no group should be allowed to operate in secrecy while misleading students. "Using the term ‘general students’ as a cover, Shibir is severely confusing the actual general student body," he said, asserting that no other student group engages in such actions.
