Chhatra Dal changes rally venue at NCP’s request

The Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), the student wing of BNP, has changed the venue of its previously announced student rally from the Central Shaheed Minar to Shahbagh following a request from the National Citizens' Party (NCP).

The announcement was made by JCD President Rakibul Islam Rakib during a press conference held today (30 July) at the BNP central office in Nayapaltan, Dhaka.

"Earlier, as part of our month-long programme commemorating the July mass uprising, we had announced a student rally at Shaheed Minar on 3 August," Rakib said. 

"Later, the NCP expressed their intention to hold a rally at the same venue on that date. They reached out to senior BNP leaders and our leadership to request a change. Considering their request, we have decided to shift the rally to Shahbagh," he added. 

Rakib Further said, "After announcing the programme and completing all preparations, shifting it to another venue is very difficult and embarrassing. We initially chose Shaheed Minar to avoid public inconvenience on a working day."  

"Since we announced first and received official approval, we were the rightful claimant. Still, as a liberal and democratic organisation that respects all views, we accepted NCP's request and changed the venue," he added. 

"We could have held it at the original venue, but we chose peace over provocation and set an example of generosity instead of unnecessary tension," he said. 

On the recently announced Dhaka University Central Students' Union (DUCSU) election schedule, JCD General Secretary Nasir Uddin Nasir said, "Holding elections without ensuring justice against teachers and staff involved in last year's fascist crackdown raises questions about its legitimacy. However, we still view the schedule positively." 

Regarding DUCSU reform, he said the commission accepted only four out of JCD's 40 proposed reforms.