It has been long since Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) took any visible step, except for issuing a few press releases, to engage with common students and advocate for their rights.
JCD leaders and activists have been absent from campuses, including major universities such as Dhaka University (DU), Jahangirnagar University (JU), Jagannath University (JnU), Rajshahi University (RU), and Chittagong University (CU) for years.
Although the student organisation, founded by former President Ziaur Rahman in 1979, played significant roles during various historical junctures in the country, it is now in decline as its leaders are reportedly preoccupied with maintaining BNP leaders in Naya Paltan.
The organisation has struggled to attract new students and support BNPs efforts to challenge the ruling Awami League. Many attribute this to the age gap between JCDs top leaders and current students. JCD President Md Rakibul Islam Rakib and General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir are students from the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 sessions, respectively.
Conversely, JCD leaders blame the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), the student wing of the ruling Awami League (AL), for attacking them whenever they attempt to enter campuses. They also claim that the ruling party has filed hundreds of false cases against JCD leaders.
Speaking to the Daily Observer on Saturday, Nasir acknowledged some of the partys shortcomings but largely attributed their failures to the ruling party and its student wing. Nasir stated that they have been supporting general students indirectly.
"Chhatra League has established a kingdom of fear on campuses across the country. No one can forcibly enter a campus, especially when both Chhatra League and the administration are united. That is why we are trying to support students from different platforms," Nasir explained.
JCDs primary goal is now to remove the Awami League from power and establish a government that represents the people, Nasir said. He added, "JCD is an independent student organisation. We support the BNP because the people of the country support them."
Rakib echoed the same sentiment, saying, "There is no gap between general students and us. We have formed committees in several units consisting solely of students. We support students legitimate movements both directly and indirectly."
"We have been banished from campuses by the fascist Awami League government. They have established one-party governance in the country. They fear JCD and view it as a threat. That is why, whenever we attempt to enter campuses, they attack us," Rakib said.
