JnU Correspondent :
Jagannath University (JnU) is facing allegations of conspiracy, as a faction of students has been accused of attempting to reinstate student politics on campus.
The group has reportedly been spreading misleading information, particularly via social media, with the aim of confusing the general student body.
In a statement released on Saturday, 17th August, the newly formed platform “Jagannath University Reform Movement” accused leftist student organisations of orchestrating these efforts. The movement has called upon all students to remain vigilant against such activities.
For some time now, students at JnU have claimed that various political organisations have been plotting to reintroduce patronage-driven politics.
The Socialist Students’ Front, a left-leaning group, is believed to be collaborating behind the scenes with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s (BNP) student wing, Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal. Additionally, certain members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) have been accused of encouraging these groups in their efforts to disrupt student unity.
On 5th August, following the resignation of Sheikh Hasina, a call was made by students to ban politics on the JnU campus. However, leftist student organisations have opposed this initiative from the outset, arguing that banning student politics is an unreasonable demand. As a result, leaders of the Jagannath University branch of the Socialist Students’ Front, including Ivan Tahsib and Mujahid Bappi, have been largely absent from the movement. Their association with the Socialist Students’ Front has contributed to negative perceptions amongst the general student body, yet the primary demand remains to keep the reform movement free from political interference.
Mizan Ryan, a student of the English Department at JnU, expressed concern, saying, “There is a possibility that a minor faction of the Chhatra League, which has been mingling with the general students, could be acting as spies for the larger faction within the organisation.”
Masud Rana, a Physics student, added his views on the matter: “Various political groups are conspiring to prevent ordinary students from reforming the campus. These groups do not want to put an end to patronage-driven politics and are spreading false information to mislead the students.”
Despite these challenges, the “Jagannath University Reform Movement” has vowed to continue its efforts towards genuine campus reform, aiming to steer clear of political influences.
