Leaders of Islami Chhatra Shibir, student front of Jamaat-e-Islami, are trying to establish their dominance on the Dhaka University (DU) campus using the image of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD), student wing of BNP.
The process of enrolling Shibir men in JCD started after 1/11 changeover, when activities of the student bodies were restricted on the campus due to the state of emergency.
Paribesh Parishad, a platform comprising DU authority and student representations, imposed a ban on the overall activities of Shibir in early 1990s.
On January this year, JCD allegedly enrolled Shibir men in their movement for the release of detained four DU teachers and eight students, who were arrested in connection with a campus unrest that occurred on August 20 last year.
The movement was launched under the banner of Nirjaton Protirodh Chhatra Andolon (student movement to resist repression) as JCD could not use its own umbrella due to the state of emergency.
After the release of the detainees, JCD launched a separate movement under its banner demanding the release of detained BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and other political leaders.
But Protirodh Andolon has been continuing its demonstrations separately on the campus on different issues, including the release of Khaleda Zia.
Meanwhile, a section of JCD leaders urged the top front leaders to take steps to quit the Protirodh Andolon complaining that the banner is mainly being run by Shibir cadres using the image of JCD.
But Khomini Ahsan, convener of Protirodh Andolon, staged a demonstration on the campus on Wednesday evening allegedly taking around 300 Shibir men demanding the release of Khaleda.
JCD sources said following showdown by Shibir men under the banner, a clear conflict has occurred among top JCD leaders at the university and central level.
“Now it is quite clear that Protirodh Andolon is mainly run by Shibir taking shelter from JCD and its main target is to promote activities of Shibir on the campus,” Obaidul Haq Nasir, organising secretary of JCD DU unit, told The Daily Star yesterday.
“We demand punishment to the JCD men who supported Protirodh Andolon that gave shelter to Shibir men to run their activities on the campus,” he added.
Khomini Ahsan, however, denied the allegation of Shibir men's involvement in Protirodh Andolon, saying, “JCD has turned into a dysfunctional organisation for a long time. That's why, top JCD leaders could not identify junior activists of JCD.”
DU unit General Secretary of JCD Saiful Islam Feroz told reporters that Protirodh Andolon is a non-political organisation that has been demonstrating on the campus against repression and illegal activities in the society and state.