Jamaat-Shibir Leaders Cannot Show Photos of Participation in July Uprising: Chhatra Dal

Leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing, Chhatra Shibir, cannot provide any photographic evidence of their participation in the July-August uprising, claimed Nasir Uddin, General Secretary of the central committee of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, the student wing of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). He made these remarks during a rally organized by the Chittagong city unit of Chhatra Dal at 5:00 PM on Wednesday at the Soloshahar Shopping Center in Chittagong to commemorate the martyrs of the mass uprising.

Nasir Uddin stated, “Even after a year, neither the president nor other leaders of Jamaat-e-Islami and Chhatra Shibir have been able to show any photos from the July-August movement. In contrast, 142 Chhatra Dal leaders and activists were martyred. If this secretive organization can show evidence of their participation in the July-August uprising, we will accept whatever they claim.”

He further criticized Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, Secretary of Dhaka South Jamaat, for making derogatory remarks against BNP’s Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman, demanding that these statements be withdrawn. “Otherwise, Chhatra Dal leaders and activists will not sit idly,” he warned. Nasir also condemned Shafiqul’s comments on the Chawkbazar killings as inappropriate, accusing him of echoing the rhetoric of Chhatra League, Jubo League, and Awami League. Raising allegations of murders and occupation of educational institutions in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar, Nasir Uddin said, “To see the true face of Jamaat-Shibir, one should look at Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, and Rajshahi.” He also accused Chhatra Shibir of creating mob-like situations under the banner of “general students” following the announcement of a Chhatra Dal committee at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (CUET). “Under the guise of general students, Shibir is creating mobs in universities. No one can halt Chhatra Dal’s progress through conspiracies or mob tactics,” he asserted, adding that Chhatra Dal has already formed committees in 1,600 institutions and plans to establish committees in another 2,500 soon. Condemning the attack on the National Citizens Party (NCP) rally in Gopalganj by alleged Awami League supporters, Nasir Uddin remarked, “Whether it was appropriate for NCP to hold a political campaign in Gopalganj on a significant day like July 16 is for the public to judge. I don’t know if their leaders and activists fled, leaving their supporters in danger. Going to violence-prone Gopalganj was not a wise decision.”

The rally was presided over by Saiful Alam, Convener of the city Chhatra Dal, and moderated by Member Secretary Sharif ul Islam. Abu Afsan Mohammad Yahiya, Vice-President of the central Chhatra Dal, was among the special guests present.