JKKNIU campus journalists protest threats by Chhatra Dal leader
JKKNIU Correspondent:
Journalists at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU) in Trishal, Mymensingh, have protested threats of physical assault made by a local Chhatra Dal leader during a university event earlier this week.
The incident took place on Tuesday (August 5) during a discussion marking the anniversary of the July Mass Uprising. Zahidul Islam Hridoy, joint convener of the university unit of Chhatra Dal, allegedly obstructed and verbally abused two on-duty journalists in the presence of top university officials, including the vice chancellor, treasurer, and registrar.
Ashraful Alam, campus correspondent for Somoyer Alo, said he was taking photos and videos when Hridoy aggressively asked him to leave. “After I identified myself, he called me ‘ill-mannered’ and threatened to slap me,” he said.
Rohan Chishti, NTV’s correspondent, said he was also verbally abused and nearly attacked when he objected to the behaviour.
Despite the presence of senior authorities during the incident, no action has been taken by the university administration or by central or local Chhatra Dal leaders, drawing sharp criticism from campus journalists.
“This is not just a professional insult; it creates an atmosphere of fear,” said Jannati Begum, general secretary of the University Journalists’ Association. “The administration’s silence is shameful.”
Abu Ishak Anik, general secretary of the Journalists’ Forum, said, “Journalists play a key role in promoting the university’s image. Threatening them for doing their job is an authoritarian act.”
Former president of Press Club, Shawkat Jahan Kibria added, “The administration failed to respond during last year’s attack by Chhatra League. Now, they remain silent again. Where is our safety?”
Journalists also questioned how Hridoy, a student from the 2012–13 batch in the Economics Department who allegedly lost his studentship due to repeated academic failure, was re-admitted in the 2023–24 academic year.
Professor Dr Md Bakhtiar Uddin, dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, confirmed that Hridoy was enrolled under “special consideration,” but declined to provide details. Students have raised concerns over this unusual re-admission.
Later, the protesting journalists submitted a written complaint to the vice chancellor, who assured them of addressing the matter. However, he did not clarify the decision to grant Hridoy special enrollment.
