Sarjis slams JCD over campus clashes

National Citizen Party (NCP) Northern Region Chief Organiser Sarjis Alam has warned that the Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) could face "a worse fate than Chhatra League" if it follows what he described as the latter's political trajectory.

Sarjis made the remarks in a Facebook post on Tuesday, hours after clashes broke out between activists of Chhatra Dal and Islami Chhatra Shibir on the Jagannath University (JnU) campus.

"The sooner Chhatra Dal becomes Chhatra League, the sooner its fate will be worse than that of Chhatra League," he wrote.
The clash took place at the university's central auditorium during a programme attended by the University Grants Commission (UGC) chairman.

According to sources from the Jagannath University Central Students' Union (JOCSU), its representatives attempted to enter the auditorium peacefully carrying placards highlighting students' long-standing demands in the presence of the UGC chairman.

However, they alleged that JnU unit Chhatra Dal Convener Mehedi Hasan Himel and his supporters, with assistance from members of the proctorial team, prevented them from entering the venue.

The JOCSU representatives further alleged that their placards were snatched, after which they were pushed and physically assaulted.

 They also claimed that when Dr KAM Rifat Hasan of the Department of Management Studies intervened to defuse the situation, he was pushed by the Chhatra Dal convener. A video circulating on social media purportedly shows part of the incident.

According to JOCSU sources, several representatives and students sustained injuries in the alleged assault, including JOCSU General Secretary and Jagannath University branch Islami Chhatra Shibir President Abdul Alim Arif.