'CU stands on our ancestral land, we are zamindars': Jamaat leader Sirajul's remark sparks outrage
“This university stands on our chest. We are the owners of this place, so we will not accept injustice. We must be respected. If the university fails to respect us, we will take necessary action,” he says
Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami leader and nominated member of parliament candidate for Chattogram-5, Sirajul Islam, has come under fire after a video of his remarks about Chittagong University went viral on social media following the recent clash between students and locals.
On Thursday (4 September), speaking at a views-exchange meeting organised by locals of Jobra village near the university, the Jamaat leader said, "Chittagong University stands on our ancestral land. We are the owners of this university and its surrounding areas. We are zamindars, and we will not tolerate anyone interfering with us."
WATCH:
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Sirajul, also the Jamaat's Hathazari upazila unit ameer and a CU official, further said, "This university stands on our chest. We are the owners of this place, so we will not accept injustice. We must be respected. If the university fails to respect us, we will take necessary action."
His comments triggered strong protests from students across CU, who staged demonstrations yesterday condemning the statement.
As the video spread online, the Jamaat leader later issued an apology, saying his words may have been misunderstood. "Some parts of my speech may have been presented in a way that offended many, but it was unintentional. My choice of words may not have been appropriate, but my intention was not such," he said.
"I have been working at CU for 16 years and have always cared for students. I visited injured students and tried to resolve the crisis. If anyone has been hurt by my remarks, I sincerely apologise and promise to be more careful in my words in the future," Sirajul added.
At the same meeting, Islami Chhatra Shibir CU Office Secretary Habibullah Khaled claimed the violent clash stemmed from "misunderstandings". "The real attackers were outsiders, not locals," he alleged.
Students condemned the Shibir leader's remarks, saying that absolving the villagers by blaming "outsiders" for the violence was a betrayal of the blood of students.
However, the Chittagong University unit of Islami Chhatra Shibir rejected the Jamaat leader's statement in a press release, also apologising for the Shibir leader's comments.
Meanwhile, CU issued a show-cause notice to Sirajul Islam to explain his remarks within three working days.
The unrest stemmed from an incident where a female student had been allegedly slapped by a security guard for returning late to her rented accommodation near Gate No 2 of CU on the night of 30 August.
The incident sparked clashes that night between students and local villagers, leaving more than 50 injured.
Fresh violence broke out again the next day, during which at least 400 and 500 people, including the CU pro-vice chancellor, proctor, teachers and students, were injured.
Later in the day, Section 144 was imposed in the area from Gate No 2 to the railgate area on the east side of that gate following the repeated clashes.
On 2 September, the CU administration filed a case with Hathazari Model Police Station, naming 95 individuals and accusing around 1,000 unidentified people. So far, nine people have been arrested.
'Zamindar building for recruitment trade'
Meanwhile, today (6 September), students under the banner of "Odhikar Sacheton Shikkharthibrindo" symbolically renamed the Chittagong University (CU) administrative building as the "Zamindar building for recruitment trade", erasing its original signboard.
The incident occurred around 2:40pm as part of their protest against alleged corruption and recruitment trade within the university administration.
Speaking on the occasion, Joshod Zakir, president of Chhatra Moitri's CU unit, said, "We have been protesting for several days demanding the resignation of the proctorial body and accountability of the administration over the recent clashes with students."
He added, "We learned that recruitment trade was taking place inside the admin building today. Yesterday, we heard a political leader calling himself the zamindar of the university. In response, we wrote 'Zamindar building for recruitment trade' on the building."
Isha Dey, organiser of Biplobi Chhatra Jubo Andolon, said their protest was tied to a seven-point demand. "When we attempted to change the building's name, Assistant Proctor Korban Ali came and objected. But we still replaced the name as part of symbolic resistance.
"The day the administration fulfils its responsibility, we ourselves will erase this new name."
Speaking to The Business Standard, Professor Korban Ali said, "They say the administration does not listen to them, so this was a symbolic protest. I did not stop them by force, only requested them not to do it. Now, the university authorities will take whatever decision they find appropriate."
