JU declares 15 July 'Black Night' to mark violence on campus
The 15 July incident was part of a broader pattern of violence on the JU campus that month
Jahangirnagar University (JU) has officially declared 15 July as "Black Night" to memorialise the violent crackdown on students, teachers, and journalists during last year's anti-discrimination student movement protests on campus.
The decision, approved in a JU Syndicate meeting on 17 March, was formally announced through a notice signed by Registrar (acting) ABM Azizur Rahman and circulated to the media on Tuesday (1 July).
According to the statement, the observance is intended to recognise the losses suffered by the students and faculty during the series of violent incidents which unfolded in mid-July 2024, culminating in a particularly brutal assault on 15 July.
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On 15 July, at around 7:30pm, a torch procession organised by the Students Against Discrimination (SAD) near the Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall was reportedly attacked by activists of the now-banned Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL).
Students seeking shelter near the vice-chancellor's residence were reportedly subjected to further violence where law enforcement personnel opened fire on the protestors and wounded at least 15 students with shotgun pellets.
Several victims were later transferred to hospitals in Dhaka for treatment.
The 15 July incident was part of a broader pattern of violence on the JU campus that month. On the night of 14 July, students were attacked at Rabindranath Tagore Hall between 11pm and 3am. Two days later, on 17 July, another round of assaults took place near the JU Administrative building, with law enforcers again reportedly using shotgun pellets.
The university administration expressed deep concern over these events, stating that steps are being taken to ensure such violence is not repeated.
